Ahmad Ismail: I have no problems with Chinese and Indians

Bukit Bendera UMNO division chief Ahmad Ismail (left) refused to back down on his racist comments against the Chinese community. [Malaysiakini, 4/9/08]

His latest act of defiance was in contrast to UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's bona fide, who made a public apology on behalf of UMNO and Ahmad Ismail. However, the Malaysian public continues to demand for Ahmad Ismail's apology.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is also UMNO president said he will personally meet Ahmad Ismail to settle the issue.

"Where can he (Ahmad Ismail) run to? When I go Penang, I will definitely make a point to meet him," Badawi told Malaysiakini (4/9/08).

The division chief made the headlines for the wrong reasons by calling the Chinese community here in Malaysia "immigrants" and thus do not deserve equal rights with the Malays.

(Read "UMNO has lost the plot on a story called Malaysia" and "Najib, the Mother Hen to Ahmad Ismail")

In to an interview with Malaysiakini on September 4, Ahmad Ismail believed he did not do anything wrong and had no reason to apologise to anyone. He scoffed at the idea of his comments being racially-motivated and accused the media, along with the public for making it into a 'big issue'. Clearly, Ahmad Ismail was again exhibiting his ignorance - a trait among today's UMNO politicians which the Malaysian public has gotten used to.

Ahmad Ismail also insisted that he was not a racist and will never be one. He justified himself by saying he had 'no problems' befriending ethnic Chinese and Indians since childhood. One can only wonder how many of them are still his friends now.

Gerakan, MCA and DAP have since lodged police reports against the division chief and demanded that action be taken against him for his seditious remarks. The police had summoned Ahmad Ismail but he did not turn up at the Bukit Mertajam police headquarters for questioning on September 3.

"He (Ahmad Ismail) never turned up and the interview will be rescheduled to Wednesday afternoon (September 4)," Senior Asst. Comm (I) Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid explained. [The Star, 3/9/2008]

Ahmad Ismail finally complied and made himself available for questioning at 10 p.m. on September 4. The police will submit the details of their investigation to the Attorney-General in Putrajaya in the next few days for further action. The charge carries a fine of RM5,000 and a minimum of 3 years behind bars or both.

Ahmad Ismail also refuted claims that he was 'hiding' from the media when he failed to turn up at the police station the first time. It was understood that a group of reporters were waiting for him then.

"I did not ask them (the media) to wait for me. So why are they saying I am running away from them?" Ahmad Ismail bit back. [Malaysiakini, 4/9/08]

If making racist statements was not enough to make name for himself, Ahmad Ismail is now being investigated for corruption. The Penang Development Corporation lodged a report on September 3 to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), alleging Ahmad Ismail for mismanaging funds of the now-defunct Popular Profile Sdn Bhd. The Opposition-led Penang State Government also accused the company for RM500,000 loss of state funds in 1997 when Ahmad Ismail was a director. Gerakan was the ruling party over Penang with Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon (image) as Chief Minister before losing the state to DAP in the March 8 Elections.

Ahmad Ismail will now have to juggle two active time bombs waiting to explode in his face - the sedition charges and corruption allegations; any one of which is capable of ending his political career and probably tarnish UMNO's already diminishing reputation. The Malaysian people is now waiting patiently to see what will become of this man who apparently had 'no problems befriending Chinese and Indians since childhood'.


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