Australian PM Scott Morrison was filmed saying “ni hao” to a Korean voter
As reported by the Independent, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was caught on camera saying “ni hao” to a voter who replied, “no, I’m Korean.”
Morrison had visited Strathfield suburb in Sydney to begin campaigning for parliamentary elections on 18 May, which he recently announced.
The Liberal Party leader was seen shaking hands with members of the public when he said, “Hello, how are you? Ni hao, how are you?” to a woman who he assumed was Chinese.
In response, the woman said, “no, no, no, I’m Korean.”
The gaffe occurred just after the PM had visited a Korean restaurant in Strathfield.
Social media users were not impressed by the PM’s blunder. One user pointed out that Strathfield has a sizeable Korean population.
“Strathfield has a high population of Koreans. To assume they are Chinese is racist and quite stupid,” the user said.
“Scott Morrison walking around Strathfield Plaza saying ni hao to people he thinks are Chinese has set a very high standard for the rest of the campaign to match,” said another.
Others simply called the PM out for racism.
“AUS PM Scott Morrison probably can’t understand why there’s a problem. “But I was speaking Asian to her! I was speaking HER language – Asian!” Is the PM just smugly ignorant or is he racist?” one person wrote.
.@ScottMorrisonMP has had his first street walk of his campaign in the inner west Sydney suburb of Strathfield, greeting locals and visiting a restaurant.@annelisenews: There was a bit of confusion about what kind of restaurant he was in.
MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #auspol pic.twitter.com/BZcxWBTVuz
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 13, 2019
Scott Morrison accuses Labour of peddling racism. Then shouts “Ni hao” to the first Asian person he greets. Turns out she’s Korean. Grass root racism on display for all. @ScottMorrisonMP
— Cheng (@DrChengHe) April 13, 2019
Here Is The #Racism101 Video Of @ScottMorrisonMP Saying ” Na Hoa To A Korean Voter . #ScottMorrison Excelling At What He Does Best , Being Racist , Ignorant , Over Presumptious And Arrogant
https://t.co/8TCrdXkuM9 #auspol #AUSVote2019 #ausvotes— Au Purrr , The ResistaCat (@ricklevy67) April 13, 2019
AUS PM Scott Morrison probably can't understand why there's a problem. "But I was speaking Asian to her! I was speaking HER language – Asian!" Is the PM just smugly ignorant or is he racist? #auspol #AusVotes2019 pic.twitter.com/AC3NR436tQ
— Peter Murphy (@PeterWMurphy1) April 13, 2019
Our Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP: “Ni Hao”
Random Asian woman he’s bothering: “I’m Korean…”We’re what like three days in? Oof #auspol
— Margot Fink 💙 deadconcession.com (@margot_fink) April 13, 2019
