Weekend View Special 2: MADD AT IBRAHIM'S REMARKS - NST

Members of Malaysians Against the Discrimination of the Disabled confronting MP Ibrahim Ali at the lobby of Parliament yesterday over his remarks about DAP MP Karpal Singh. Ibrahim says he will never apologise to Karpal. — NST photo by Rosdan Wahid

THE fiery Ibrahim Ali met his match at Parliament lobby yesterday when a group of disabled confronted him over an "insensitive" statement about DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

Datuk Bung Mokhtar, BN MP for Kinabatangan, greeting a MADD member yesterday.

The independent member of parliament for Pasir Mas was jeered by the 30-strong group for asking the speaker on April 30 why the wheel-chair-bound Karpal, the MP for Bukit Gelugor, had not stood to ask questions.

House rules require members to stand while asking questions.

The group, representing Malaysians Against the Discrimination of the Disabled (MADD), had showed up at the lobby to present a memorandum of protest to MPs.

Led by Anthony Thana-yasan, the group had also wanted an apology from Ibra-him and Datuk Bung Mokhtar, the Barisan Nasional MP for Kinabatangan, for their comments about the disabled.
The effort, however, failed when Ibrahim walked off after heatedly engaging the group for five minutes.

Bung Mokhtar, however, said he was sorry if his comment had hurt the disabled.

"I have disabled in my family and constituency. How can I think of hurting any of you?" he said to cheers.

The drama began about 11.45am when Kelana Jaya DAP MP Loh Gwo Burne told Ibrahim that a group of disabled wanted to meet him.

As Ibrahim approached them, the group asked him to offer the disabled and Karpal an unconditional apology for his "insensitive" statement.

Ibrahim, in an equally angry tone, said: "I will not apologise to Karpal.

"I never meant to offend any of you (looking at disabled). What happened between him and me was something personal."

The atmosphere became more tense when Ibrahim suggested that they were being used.

"I have been fighting for a RM500 monthly allowance for the disabled for a long time."

As they pressed Ibrahim to apologise to Karpal, a flustered Ibrahim walked off without a word.

Ibrahim, met by the New Straits Times, said he would not retract his remarks about Karpal until the latter apologised for calling him a katak (frog).

"I was being patient but he called me a 'katak'. I waited for him to retract his statements but he did not do so."

He said MADD may have been made use of by Pakatan Rakyat MPs who wanted to politicise the matter.

Anthony said the disabled had dignity and could not be bought.

"Any one of the MPs can become disabled one day. So, be sensitive to our condition and please show us some respect."