Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has clarified that he had not blamed the Chinese for the May 13 riots.
Nazri was reported as saying on Saturday that it was a historical fact that the Chinese did cause the May 13 riots.
He had also said that the highly controversial Tanda Putera film was well-researched and could not understand the backlash it received
Nazri insisted that he had not accused the Chinese community, noting that those who knew him well enough would know that he would not have said it.
"You know me better," he told reporters after a function at Matic in Kuala Lumpur tonight.
Nazri clarified that a reporter asked him about Tanda Putera to which he had asked, "What is wrong with the movie?"
"Someone said the Chinese feel that they are being blamed for the riots."
"So I said the Chinese should not feel that way. Just because 1 or 2 Chinese did it years ago, does not mean that the whole race should be held responsible," he said.
He likened the situation to Hitler's execution of the Jews, pointing out the whole German race cannot be accused and held responsible for Hitler's actions.
He was later criticised by the DAP and the MCA for his comments.
DAP's Lim Kit Siang said the movie, directed by acclaimed director Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba, was “pure rubbish” and was used as a tool to “malign and demonise” the Chinese community.
MCA Youth Chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong called Nazri's statement insensitive and unfair, pointing out that many factors had sparked the riot.
The movie has opened poorly at the box office and to bad reviews.
The Penang government had issued an advisory to the cinemas in the state not to screen Tanda Putera, calling it full of lies and saying it demonised minority groups.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, however, made clear that no action would be taken against cinemas that decided to screen it.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim disagreed with the Penang government’s advisory to cinema operators in the state not to screen Tanda Putera.
However, Anwar agreed with Lim's contention that the film was made to help Barisan Nasional.
“What is regretful is that the film promotes Barisan Nasional propaganda and even the director herself, Datin Paduka
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