Ahmad Ismail: 'I did Nothing Wrong'

Datuk Ahmad Ismail caused an uproar with his statement about the Chinese

New Straits Times, September 5th 2008

PUTRAJAYA: As the criticism against him continued, Datuk Ahmad Ismail yesterday came forward to make his stand.

“There is no reason for me to apologise. I did nothing wrong.” Many quarters have criticised the Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman’s remarks about the Chinese. Several police reports have been lodged against him.

There have been strong calls for him to apologise, be charged under the Sedition Act and sacked from Umno.

Ahmad said he would hold a press conference tomor row.

“I will meet all of you after the Umno liaison meeting.” Ahmad said the police had recorded his statement.

Asked why he did not come forward earlier when the issue was first brought up, he said he had been leading a team to the King’s Cup sepak takraw tournament in Bangkok.

He also dismissed suggestions that he had been in hiding due to the intense media attention.

“That was never the case. I didn’t disappear. I also did not say I was going to turn up at the Bukit Mertajam police headquar ters.”

Penang deputy police chief Senior Assistant Commissioner I Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid had said that Ahmad had failed to turn up on Tuesday after being asked to.

He also refused to comment on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s apology over the remark, saying it was a sensitive matter.

Police are investigating reports lodged against him in George Town, Bukit Mertajam, Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya.