MELAKA – Former deputy education minister Teo Nie Ching created a media frenzy when she uploaded a profile photo with the slogan “Lahabau Melaka, jom undi” on Facebook.
This came just hours after the campaigning period for the Melaka polls began today.
The photo posted by the Kulai lawmaker did not sit well with some netizens and has since gone viral, causing quite a stir on all social media platforms.
According to Melakans, “lahabau” is used as a greeting similar to “apa khabar” (how are you).
However, the meaning of the word has evolved over time.
According to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, the colloquial term now bears a crude meaning that is similar to “useless” or “unreliable”.
Teo has since taken down the photo and apologised for making the blunder, in a bid to encourage voters in the historical state to cast their votes in the November 20 election.
In a Facebook post this evening, the DAP rep explained that she was only using the “free frames” available on Facebook as part of her campaign strategy due to strict standard operating procedures set by the Election Commission (EC).
“Human beings are never free from mistakes, including myself. I only wanted to campaign through free frames that can be found on Facebook without understanding the true meaning of the word.
“With this, I humbly apologise for the mistake in preparing and uploading campaign material that misused the language.
“I promise to be more careful after this in uploading social media material for the Melaka election,” she said.
Earlier today, EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said ceramah (talks), public speeches, physical campaigns, house-to-house visits, and walkabouts are banned during the state polls.
The Melaka election is held following the dissolution of the state assembly on October 4, after four assemblymen withdrew support for former chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
The EC has fixed November 20 for voting, today for nominations, and early voting on November 16. – The Vibes, November 8, 2021
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