Warrior’s welcome for Ahmad Ismail of ‘pendatang’ infamy

Warrior’s welcome for Ahmad Ismail of ‘pendatang’ infamy
By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG


GEORGE TOWN: Suspended Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail was given a warrior’s welcome, complete with presentation of regalia such as a keris (traditional Malay sword), when he turned up for the division’s delegates conference.

Ahmad was on Sept 10 suspended from Umno and stripped of all party posts for three years following an uproar over race-related statements he made in a ceramah (political address) in Permatang Pauh.

He had described Malaysian citizens of Chinese descent as pendatang (immigrants).

He arrived at the Bayview Beach Resort here for the conference at 3.40pm on Sunday and was greeted with cheers and accompanied by a kompang (traditional drums) troupe into the ballroom, where several silat (Malay martial arts) exponents gave a brief ceremonial performance.

Upon entering, Ahmad was adorned with a yellow tengkolok (headdress) by division adviser Azmi Merican, a yellow selempang (scarf) by Umno veteran Saakyah Mat Isa, and presented with a keris by Umno veteran Abdul Rahman Lazim.

Ahmad raised the keris briefly to his lips in reverence, then lifted it high before proceeding on stage, while the emcee ammounced that all three traditional items were presented to Ahmad as a true pahlawan Melayu (Malay warrior) of Bukit Bendera.

Jalan Lahat Umno branch chief Madzalifah Abu Kassim then recited a sajak (poem) that he wrote for Ahmad, after which the delegates cheered “Hidup Datuk Ahmad” and “Hidup Melayu” three times each.

The delegates then sang the song Warisan, followed by prayers and Ahmad, who is the division’s adviser and de facto leader, then proceeded to officiate the closed-door conference.

The conference confirmed the election of Abdul Jalil Ariffin, who was uncontested, as the new division chief.

The delegates also passed a motion urging the Umno Supreme Council to withdraw and cancel Ahmad’s suspension. A similar motion was passed by the Wanita wing earlier in the day.