KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth chief, Tan Kai, has been urged to apologise to the Hakka community for calling on the community to emulate other communities by being united so that they will not be seen as a lost sheep.
Pending State Assemblywoman Violet Yong said the statement made by Tan Kai, who is also a Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, at the Hakka Association’s function on 18 February was an insult to the Hakka community.
“I think his statement had hurt the feeling of the Hakka community,” Yong told a press conference held at state DAP headquarters here, yesterday.
“It is well known that the Hakka people are very hardworking, very strong and good in all respects of life, especially in political, economic and business fields. They have performed very well in all arenas.
“The Hakkas have another characteristic; this is they are very united when it comes to fighting and upholding the values of the community.
According to Yong, as a Hakka herself, she felt insulted when she read Tan Kai’s statement.
She said that a few days ago, Sarawak Hakka Community Association chairman had even rebutted Tan Kai’s statement.
“We are all puzzled why Tan Kai came up with such a ridiculous statement. So I would like to tell Tan Kai that when a person or a group of people do not support BN or SUPP, it does not mean that they are not united. You cannot claim that people are not united if they don’t support BN or SUPP.
“There is a Chinese saying, ‘You don’t simply utter a word without basis’. So if Tan Kai cannot come up with his basis, then he should take back his words,” said Yong
