I meant the area was dark, Baling MP says on controversial comment
Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim apologises and retracts his statement again.
KUALA LUMPUR: Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim this morning apologised for his comment on the skin colour of a DAP MP which sparked a shouting match in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Azeez, who retracted his comments yesterday, did so again today, saying he agreed with speaker Azhar Harun’s directive to do so.
“I concede. I retract the statement and apologise,” he said.
Azeez had said that Kasthuri Patto (PH-Batu Kawan) was “dark” and could not be seen. He also asked her to “put on some powder”.
In defending his remarks, Azeez said he too was dark and could not be seen.
“So it’s not an issue. How can I retract if I am dark too?” he said.
Speaking this morning, he said he had no intention of insulting anyone by calling them dark, and that the area where Kasthuri sat yesterday was indeed dim.
“I never get noticed, Datuk Speaker” he said, adding that he had used the word “dark” in this context.
Kasthuri meanwhile thanked the speaker for directing Azeez to retract his statement, saying it should not have been made.
“In my view, and that of many MPs, whatever reason given by Baling, he didn’t mean the area was poorly lit.
“Why talk about putting on powder?” she added. “That comment is sexist. ‘Dark’ is racist.”
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