Wanita chief told to meet with Perak Umno Officials

wanita Gerakan Chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe has been instructed by her party to meet state Umno and division officials soon to clarify parts of her speech, deemed offensive and seditious by a large segment of Umno members.

Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said Tan, who is Gerik member of parliment and deputy information minister, had been told to meet Umno members in the state to explain her " controversial" statements attered at the 21st Wanita delegates ' congerence in Kuala Lumpur.

Asked if any specific instructions were given to Tan on how she was expected to explain the issue to Umno members, Chang said:"I don't want reveal what the central committee had told her. All I can say is that she has been given the duty to answer.
On whether he was prepared to answer on behalf of Tan in his capacity as Perak Gerakan chairman, Chang said he did not want to the the responsility now.
"To ursurp her duty would be wrong . I don't want to get involved. If she doesn't explain, then I will talk. I don't want to stoke the issue at the moment. Let her do the explaining. She has been entrusted
"All I can say is that she will make some statements. If you want more information, ask her. She will be coming to close the workshop."
Tan, however, did not attend the worksop yesterday evening as she has been hospitalised with suspected dengue.
In her speech at the Gerakan wanita conference, Tan had said some leaders in the ruling barisan Nasional had chosen to forget that "everyone is a malaysian irrespective of race."
She was quoted as saying: "We are not squatters. Our origins are the same-the malays come from the Malay islands in Nusantara, the Chinese from China and the Indians from Indin.
"So, if you don't know our history, don't talk about it. The Orang Asli are the true people of this land, but unfortunately, they continue to be sideline."
It was reported that she had called on leader not to abuse or twist historical facts and stoke racial sentiment to gain popularity and win votes, adding that the country did not need "third-class leaders who divide and rule."
Her speech did not go down well with Umno grassroots members, including those in Perak's Bukit Gantang and Gerik divisions whose members, Umno leaders said, had campaigned to get her elected as MP in 2004 and the recent general election.