He said although the portal was kind enough to amend the offending paragraph five hours after the story was published, many still believed the original story was the truth — where he supposedly asked for more “sexy and beautiful candidates” to be fielded in the next election.
Baljit said although the erroneous story had marred his reputation, eliciting nasty comments from the fairer sex, he was willing to forgive them as it was not their fault.
“It is not a case of misinterpretation by the portal, but clearly inaccurate reporting.
“I understand Malaysiakini has already fixed the error, which I appreciate. But the damage is done.
“I feel no amount of explaining is going to help. But my conscience is clear. I have uttered the right thing for my party to prosper,” Baljit said in an interview with FMT.
Baljit said as a God-fearing Sikh, he had adhered to the tenets of his religion which called for the appreciation of women, as ascribed in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs.
“For those who do not know me personally, I have a wife, two daughters and my mum is still around. I pray that they will be around for a long time.
“In my religion, there is a passage that reads ‘if a woman can give birth to kings, she can never be second to anyone’ and ‘without women, there would be no one at all’.
“How can I ever look down on women, let alone be sexist?”
Yesterday, it had been reported that Baljit had suggested that his party should field “beautiful, sweet, energetic, sexy” women instead of older men to court the electorate.
However, the portal carried another story on the same day where Baljit explained that the “sexy” comment was directed only at a party elder, central commitee member Azmar Md Alias (Kak Azmar).
“If you want a seat where you will 100 per cent lose, why put up a candidate who is 70 years old, a Chinese man who is 70 years old. Ok, 80 years old.
“Why not field a woman who is beautiful, sweet, energetic, sexy, and is willing to give it her all, like our Kak Azmar?” he was quoted as saying in the second article.
Baljit’s apparent sexist remarks in the earlier report had infuriated the Opposition’s female representatives, especially DAP Youth’s Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud.
Baljit had immediately issued a statement then, saying he was sorry if he had offended any women.
“I never intended to lower or degrade any women and never had any such intentions. I am sorry if anyone felt offended.
“For those who have ‘spinal reflex’, to judge me without knowing the whole story, I also have no ill feeling against them.
“I hope this explanation will clarify the misunderstanding,” he had said in a statement yesterday.