The surprise apology came after DAP party national chairman Karpal Singh said in his speech at the Penang DAP convention today that Ooi should take the chance to openly apologise for the offensive remark.
The former blogger then walked up the stage, grabbed the microphone from the emcee and said he was sorry.
"No one can ask me to apologise except Saudara Karpal Singh! What he says, I will follow.
"I will not retract or apologise unless the Tiger of Jelutong says so. The new Tiger of Jelutong will listen to the Tiger of Jelutong," said Ooi, referring to the popular nickname for Karpal, who once represented Ooi's constituency.
"I cannot retract what I had already said but I sincerely apologise if I have hurt the people's feelings," he said.
There was applause, as well as sounds of booing, from some 1000 delegates attending the convention.
In his speech, Karpal said that no MPPP staff including its lowest ranks should be called "kucing kurap".
"The new Tiger of Jelutong Jeff Ooi should take the opportunity here, and he has to take the opportunity, to openly and unconditionally apologise to the council officers who had been insulted by his remark," said Karpal, who was once
"All officers high and low (of rank) must be respected. Nobody can be considered low," he said.
Karpal, who is the DAP national chairman, said while he could not instruct Ooi to issue an apology, the party's central executive committee (CEC) could issue such an order.
"But I want to make it clear that if Ooi persists in not apologising, the CEC should take up the matter," he said.
On November 16, Ooi, disappointed with MPPP officers who could not supply him with data on the state's illegal hawkers issue, called the council "kucing kurap", which literally means "sick cat".
Ooi said he had only meant to say "small fry".
His remarks sparked criticism from both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional politicians, urging him to apologise.
At the event today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng praised Ooi for the apology.
But Lim said Ooi should follow the advice of Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, which he said reflected the DAP and the state government's stand.
"Ooi cannot say he only listens to all Karpal says. He would not be respecting the party this way," said Lim.
Lim quipped that he brought this up again in his speech because he noticed that Chow looked unhappy.
"I also felt a bit bad," he said to laughter from those present. - December 1, 2013.
---The Malaysian Insider
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