The Jelutong MP offers his apology after being reprimanded by DAP chairman Karpal Singh at the Penang DAP convention.
GEORGE TOWN: DAP’s Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi today apologised to municipal council workers for insulting them as “kucing kurap” (stray cat)
The parliamentarian retracted his remarks and made the apology before some 659 delegates at the Penang DAP convention here this morning after he was reprimanded by party national chairman Karpal Singh.
“I apologise if my remarks have offended some people.
“No one can force me to retract my statement and apologise except for Karpal Singh.
“When the old tiger (Karpal), the little tiger (Jeff Ooi) will listen.
“I will do what Karpal asked me to do,” Ooi told the delegates immediately after Karpal had ended his speech.
He also shook hands with Karpal.
Earlier in his speech, Karpal has called on Ooi to issue an immediate public apology and retract his “kurap kurap” (stray cats) insult against low ranking workers of municipal councils.
He cautioned that the party central executive committee (CEC) would step in to force Ooi to apologise if he refused to do so.
He blasted Ooi for making such demeaning and disparaging remarks against the government staff.
“I call upon the new Tiger of Jelutong to take this opportunity and he has to talk at this convention to openly and unconditionally apologise to municipal council workers.
“If Jeff Ooi persists of not apologising, the matter would be taken up to CEC to force him to do so.
“We view this matter very seriously.
“Kucing kurap is an insult. What does it mean? Someone of no significance? Somebody who is useless?
“All officers of municipal councils must be respected. No one can be are he considered low,” Karpal told the convention.
He also warned party members not to continue using the media to attack the party openly.
He reminded them to use proper party channels, and not to resort to tactics to sabotage and destablise the party.
“We can take criticisms but not betrayal,” he said.
Later in his speech, secretary-general and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng called on the convention to accept Ooi’s apology.
“We can accept his apology. Not only Karpal, but also many party members wanted him to apologise,” said Lim.
On Nov 16, Jeff Ooi described low-ranking municipal council officers as “kucing kurap”.
His remarks drew flaks from various quarters including from DAP, PKR and Umno, and several NGOs. fmt
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