Malaysia party suspends member for calling Malays 'immigrants'

A Malaysian political party today suspended one of its members over a controversial remark implying that the country's three major communities - ethnic Indians, Chinese and majority Malays were all "immigrants".
The Gerakan party's central working committee after an emergency meeting today decided that Johor state delegate Tan Lai Soon would be suspended for his remarks and has been issued a show cause notice.
Tan has said that only the Orang Asli (the aborigines) and natives in Sabah and Sarawak could be considered the original inhabitants of the land.
Tan made the controversial comments at the Gerakan's 43rd National Delegates Conference yesterday, chastising ruling Malay Umno party members for calling Chinese and Indians immigrants, saying that the majority Malays were no different as they too came from Indonesia.

Gerakan deputy president Cheah Soon Hai told reporters that the party condemns the remarks made by Tan.
"It is not the party's stand, we are all Malaysians and no Malaysian is an immigrant. All Malaysians that are born here are Malaysians," Cheah said.