Speaking to reporters during a press conference in Taman Indah, Sekinchan, near here, Jamal clarified that this wasn’t a mere political stunt by his group.

“This isn’t just for show. Allah has given me a sign to adopt children. This wasn’t planned and expected.”

The Sungai Besar Umno division chief said he had 40 adopted children, but described the adoption of Heng Yu Chuan (“Ah Boy”) as special.

“This is the first time I’ve adopted a kid upon seeing him.”

Jamal also said that Yu Chuan would be allowed to keep his cultural practices and beliefs.

“He will be taken care of by his original family. His religion and cultural practices will be maintained.

“I will take care of his expenditure and future. I will treat him as my own son,” he gave an assurance.

Jamal, who was previously known as the organiser of the racially-tinged Red Shirts rally in Kuala Lumpur, denied he harboured any racial prejudice against the Chinese community in Malaysia.

“I am not a racist. I have many Chinese friends. This is further proven when I adopted this Chinese son.”

Elaborating further, he said Yu Chuan’s father was detained on March 3 by Indonesian authorities, who also confiscated his fishing boat.

“Indonesia is using the law of the jungle. They came into our waters and then extorted local fishermen.

“If they don’t get what they want, they will hold the skippers and boat crew captive as well as confiscate their boats.”

Jamal is currently in the process of recovering boats that were seized and hoping to reunite Yu Chuan with his father.