The Penang DAP has distanced itself from Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi's offensive remark referring to the low-raking local council staff as ‘kucing kurap' (small fry or insignificant staff).
State DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow said Ooi's remarks do not reflect the DAP's nor the state government's view, and appears to be a "casual remark" or Ooi's "personal view".
Chow said Ooi has not aired his complaints against the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) in any internal meeting, whether with the party or the state government.
"There are 40 DAP representatives in Parliament, and the state cannot be responsible for every statement issued by them," he said.
Asked whether he would direct Ooi to apologise, Chow said, "it is up to him".
Chow, who is the state executive councillor in charge of local government, went on to defend Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) president Patahiyah Ismail against Ooi's attack.
Chow said it was "unfair" of Ooi to ask Patahiyah to resign from her job if she could not perform as well as her predecessors.
Ooi has also attacked Patahiyah for sending low-ranking and ill-informed officers, whom he described as "kucing kurap", to handle his complaints about illegal hawkers in Jelutong.
Several awards won during Patahiyah's term
"How do you compare her performance with her predecessors? Ooi did not give any reason for this," Chow said when met in Komtar.
"The municipal council's performance also reflects the state government's performance as we must bear some responsibility as well.
"If the council performs badly, it means that the state is also doing badly. But Penangites have given us a second mandate, so it means people are satisfied with the council's performance," Chow said.
The council, he added, has also won several awards during Patahiyah's tenure.
Ooi drew flak from several quarters for his remarks, with state PKR chief and Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman criticising him for not respecting civil servants and not adhering to the spirit of discussion within Pakatan.
Today, state PKR Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin asked Ooi to apologise for his "rudeness and unprofessional" ‘kucing kurap' remark.
Ooi has also been criticised by Penang Malay Congress president Rahmad Isahak for "insulting the Malays".
Rahmad at a press conference today said the Malays felt undermined by Ooi's remarks as most of the workers in MPPP are from the community.
"As the chief staff of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, he should be humble instead of being arrogant as he was given the mandate to become MP by the multi-racial voters of Jelutong," said Rahmad, a former DAP member.
On Sunday, Ooi was angrily approached by former state Wanita PKR chief Aminah Abdullah and her husband Mohd Rofi Osman, who said they were slighted by the remark as Rofi was an MPPP staff. They also demanded that Ooi retracts his words.
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