by Johnson K Saai, reporters@theborneopost.com.
Posted on September 4, 2012, Tuesday
KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Malaysia Day celebration on September 16 should not be marred by the controversial remark by TV3 presenter Nurul Syuhada Nurul Ain on Bintulu .
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang said the issue should be put aside and people in the state should move on and focus on the celebration.
“A slight mistake must not mar the bigger picture of our celebration. We are willing to forgive everybody because that is the spirit of Malaysia.
He said this when speaking to reporters at the earth breaking ceremony for the site of the proposed Majlis Adat Istiadat building and Sarawak Native Court here yesterday.
Jabu, who is Agriculture Modernisation Minister, was asked to comment on Syuhada’s description of Bintulu during a live crossover report on Merdeka Day.
Syuhada described Bintulu, which will host the national-level Malaysia Day celebration, as “bandar dhaif” which literally means “poor town”.
That had offended several quarters, including the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth and Bintulu Melanau Association.
PBB Youth vice-chief Pandi Suhaili in a statement last Saturday had demanded the TV3 presenter to make a public apology to calm the anger of Bintulu residents.
Meanwhile, Bintulu Melanau Association exco member Saiful Bahari Bujang said that the presenter should not have made such a blunder.
Saiful also wanted Syuhada to come up with a public apology, particularly to the Bintulu people.
TV3 in a statement issued last Sunday said the issue arose due to misinterpretation of how Syuhada had uttered the word.
“We would like to apologise if the misinterpretation offends anyone.
“Nurul Syuhada and TV3 have no intention to talk bad about Bintulu,” it said.
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