Arrest Ahmad Ismail : Wanita Gerakan Urge

Wanita Gerakan: Arrest Ahmad Ismail
By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 Gerakan's national women's wing chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe today urged Umno and Barisan Nasional president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to sack Bukit Bendera Umno warlord Datuk Ahmad Ismail from his position and to detain him under the Internal Security Act if he does not immediately quit playing the racial card.

She was responding to Ahmad's statements made yesterday at a press conference at the Penang Umno headquarters where he likened Chinese Malaysians to American Jews, and blamed Gerakan's acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for the rising racial tensions.

Ahmad's supporters also tore up a portrait of Koh, who is also state BN chairman, after he called for Gerakan to be ejected from the BN coalition.

"We, the people of Malaysia, cannot compromise with people who are irresponsible, uncivilised, rude and do not respect other people, who attempt to pawn and destroy the racial harmony and peace in the country," Tan said, reading from a prepared text.

"If he is not detained under the ISA, the black and bloody May 13 incident will recur as a consequence of Datuk Ahmad Ismail's actions," said Tan at a media conference held at the party headquarters in Cheras here this morning.

Though Gerakan has been a harsh critic of the ISA previously, Tan pointed out that since the Act has not yet been abolished, it might as well be used.

"The atmosphere at the grassroots level is most tense. We do not want that just because of one person, the May 13 incident happens. We do not want the people to be victims," she said.

Tan was unwilling to be drawn into the debate of the party leaving the BN coalition as yet. She said the party still enjoyed a good relationship with the rest of Umno, apart from those in Penang. For now, it would wait for the outcome of the BN supreme council, which is scheduled to meet later this afternoon.

But she was quick to quip that if Gerakan quit the BN, it was "out of the question now" that it would join with the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition.

"We will make our stand later," she said in a firm voice.

Tan also said that Wanita Gerakan would be satisfied if Ahmad immediately stopped making racial statements that incited hatred among the communities. Then there would be no need for the ISA.

She also did not push the issue of a public apology from Ahmad.

"We do not want to force an apology if the heart is not willing. That is a sin," said Tan.