Man Called “Keling” Three Times On Twitter, Unity Minister Weighs In

The Minister of National Unity says Malaysians must be more aware and sensitive towards issues of national unity.

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Despite racism being increasingly frowned upon in society, some individuals still commit the hateful act with no consideration over its effects on others.

PSM member Barathi Selvam on X (formerly Twitter) shared a screenshot on the app of a conversation he had with another user Abu Dzar Al Ghifari (@husseinordin).

The exchange began when Abu posted a Tweet that said “Describe keling if it’s really that racist. U can’t” on 17 February.

This prompted Barathi to confront Abu by replying to a post shared by a minister about the corn seller who went viral for putting up a racist sign at his stall.

However, Abu retaliated with more replies and called Barathi a keling twice, making use of the word up to three times in total.

Actually, three times. pic.twitter.com/h7hMUDnUSp
— BarathiSelvam (@barathiSelvam10) February 17, 2025

National Unity minister says discrimination is unacceptable

The Minister of National Unity Aaron Ago Dagang retweeted Barathi’s post which included the screenshot of the conversation, and left a reminder about discrimination in the caption.

“The use of words of actions which are discriminatory towards race, religion, or ethnicity are completely unacceptable in a nation of multiple races and cultures such as Malaysia.

“Malaysians must be more aware and sensitive towards issues that involve national unity. Each individual is responsible for maintaining national peace and harmony and respecting one another regardless of their background,” he said.

Penggunaan perkataan atau tindakan yang bersifat diskriminasi berdasarkan kaum, agama, atau etnik adalah tidak boleh diterima sama sekali dalam sebuah negara yang berbilang kaum dan budaya seperti Malaysia.

Rakyat Malaysia harus lebih peka dan sensitif terhadap isu-isu yang… https://t.co/FygHrdjho1
— Aaron Ago Dagang (@AaronAgoDagang) February 18, 2025

Yesterday (17 February), Aaron Tweeted about corn seller Abdul Aziz bin Musa making a public video apology after receiving tremendous online backlash for putting up a sign on his stall specifying that he does not sell his products to Indians and making use of the highly offensive and derogatory term “keling”.

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Shahril Bahrom

Shahril Bahrom is a Malaysian digital journalist known for his work with The Rakyat Post and World Of Buzz, covering social issues, technology, pop culture, and viral online trends. His writing combines accessible storytelling with strong awareness of Malaysian internet culture, often focusing on topics that resonate across social media and public discourse. Known for a conversational yet informative style, he specialises in digital-first journalism, human-interest stories, and trend-driven reporting that bridges mainstream news with contemporary online conversations.