KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 8): A senior Indonesian leader has added to the chorus of voices demanding an apology from former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad for calling Bugis descendants “pirates”.

Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla said Dr Mahathir has not only insulted the Bugis community in Malaysia with his remarks, but also those in Indonesia.

“As a person with Bugis ancestry, I am protesting (against the remark) and I am shocked. Dr Mahathir should apologise as the Bugis community is found not only in South Sulawesi, but all over Indonesia and even in Malaysia,” Antara news agency quoted him as saying.

The Bugis community is a Malay sub-ethnic group that originates from the Sulawesi islands in Indonesia. Large sections of the Muslim community in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are of Bugis descent.

Dr Mahathir had allegedly referenced Prime Minister Najib Razak’s ancestry when he made the remarks at an anti-kleptocracy rally in Selangor on Oct 14. Mr Najib, has in the past, spoken proudly of his family’s Bugis ancestry.

“Maybe he can trace his ancestry to Bugis pirates. Somehow, he lost his way and came to Malaysia. Go home to Bugis (Sulawesi)!” Dr Mahathir had said.

His remarks caused an uproar among the Bugis community in Malaysia, with one group protesting outside Dr Mahathir’s Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya on Oct 18.

Last week, the Sultan of Selangor said Dr Mahathir should be investigated for sedition as the former premier’s remarks had appeared to incite Malaysians to hate, degrade and view the Bugis community with contempt.

An Indonesian Bugis association had also demanded an apology from the former premier, while the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta beefed up its security as a sign of precaution.

With Indonesians seething over Dr Mahathir’s comments, Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia reportedly send a letter to Dr Mahathir late last month urging the veteran politician to take the necessary steps to clear the air.

The former premier however, has since explained that his comments were only directed at “crooks who stole money”.

Dr Mahathir has been Mr Najib’s chief critic, accusing the premier of corruption following the news of RM2.6 billion (S$838 million) being deposited into the premier’s private accounts, as well as of financial irregularities in state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

He joined hands with the opposition after forming the bumiputra-centric Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) last year and has been going around the country in a campaign to oust Mr Najib.

Mr Kalla urged Dr Mahathir to withdraw his remarks, which he said has hurt the feelings of the Bugis community.

“Dr Mahathir should not link (ancestry with politics),” he said.