PETALING JAYA: The Malay rights group Perkasa has urged Jeff Ooi, the MP for Jelutong, as well as all social media users, to apologise to the family of the late Haron Din for improper comments about his death.
The group said Jeff Ooi should not repeat the insolent comments made on his personal Twitter account. Perkasa also called for all “improper” postings and comments by others to be deleted.
Dr Amini Amir Abdullah, head of the group’s Islamic Affairs Bureau, said Perkasa urged Ooi to apologise to Muslims for the insulting comments made when Haron died in a US hospital on Thursday, Bernama reported.
Ooi has come under widespread criticism after he posted the remark “Adios Harun Din. May there be peace” on Twitter when sharing a tweet by someone else. His remark was viewed as being offensive and disrespectful to Haron and his family.
Amini said Haron, who was PAS spiritual leader, was much-respected by Muslims at national and international levels.
He said Perkasa also urged all social media users, including those on Facebook and Twitter to apologise and delete all postings and comments which were improper, in relation to Haron’s death, Bernama reported.
In the wake of the controversy, the DAP issued a statement late yesterday expressing regret for Ooi’s “insensitive statement”. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also expressed regret “if any of Haron’s family members felt slighted over Ooi’s re-tweet which does not represent the party’s stand”.