Hisham told to show sincerity - The Sun

PETALING JAYA (April 27, 2008):

Several Chinese community leaders want Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to show that he is sincere in apologising over the keris incidents.

They said if he is sincere, he should use his position as the education minister to demonstrate that he is not a racist but a leader for all Malaysians.

Hishammuddin can walk the talk by, for example, reopening the original SJK (C) Damansara, reverting back to the use of mother-tongue language in the teaching of science and maths, they said.

They said unlike the kissing of the keris, which is done solemnly and gently, by kings during coronation ceremonies, Hishammuddin's wielding of the keris at Umno Youth's annual assemblies had strong racial overtones.

On Friday (April 25), Hishammuddin admitted the raising of the keris during the wing's annual assemblies was among the causes of the Barisan Nasional (BN)'s poor performance in the general election and apologised to non-Malays over the incidents.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) president Datuk Bong Hon Liong told Oriental Daily News Hishmmuddin's apology is "a good beginning" but felt that if he wants the Chinese to change their view about him, he has to walk the talk and show that he can look after the interest of all races.

Bong said Hishammuddin had promised before the general election to reopen SJK (C) Damansara and hoped it can be done this year.

KLSCAH chief executive officer Tan Ah Chai told the daily he has reservations about Hishammuddin's sincerity, saying the latter's action looked more like a political gesture. He said Hishammuddin did not really understand why people were not happy with him over the keris incidents.

Apart from wielding the keris, the people are not happy with his arrogance and body language while raising the weapon.

He said Hishammuddin's actions carried strong racial overtones.

Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia) president Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong said in a statement that "Hua Zong would accept Hishammuddin's apology if it is made because he realised that his wielding of the keris has hurt the feelings and sensitivity of non-Malays and not just because theBN has suffered a big setback in the general election".

Lim hoped that Hishammuddin would consider the views of the masses in handling educational issues, especially the use of mother-tongue language in the teaching of science and mathematics.