KUALA LUMPUR, 31 JANUARY, 2012: MCA Seputeh division committee member Collin Tiew who brought 50 people to Perkasa’s Chinese New Year open house recently said he has been made a “victim” over the white ang pow controversy.

“I have been made a ‘victim’ for bringing some 50 people to attend Perkasa's Chinese New Year open house in Kampung Baru on Sunday,” Tiew said yesterday.

He said even though he knew the event was organized by the Malay rights NGO, he thought it was just a regular Chinese New Year visit and did not expect the function to turn controversial.

"It was not my intention (to offend anybody). If my action has hurt the people's feelings, I would like to apologize to the Chinese community," he added.

Perkasa stirred controversy at during its open house after its chief Ibrahim Ali gave out ang pow in white envelopes. In Chinese culture the color white is reserved for funerals.

Defending his action, Tiew, who is also MCA Sri Desa branch chief, said he attended the event in his capacity as chairperson of a welfare association, not as an MCA member.

Tiew was also criticized for praising Perkasa in his speech during the event. To this, he claimed he was merely translating Ibrahim's speech for the Chinese audience.

"I had attended another open house and arrived halfway through Ibrahim's speech and the MC (master of ceremony) suddenly asked me to translate Ibrahim's speech.

"I do not endorse what he said, I merely translated it," he said.

Tiew also said that the event was the first time he met the Perkasa chief and had only known Ibrahim from the media.

"If Ibrahim Ali did this for his personal agenda, then I regret it... I am being condemned, I'm a victim of this incident.”

He said the white ang pow incident has resulted in his family becoming a target of criticism, adding that he was personally upset by the white ang pow packets and was outraged by Ibrahim's ignorance of Chinese culture.

"When the 1Malaysia concept is said to be just a slogan, he (Ibrahim) is an example of this," he said.