The DAP is furious with Barisan Nasional's continuous use of the police to trample on political freedoms in the country.

The latest act by the police in arresting the party's Tebing Tinggi assemblyperson Ong Boon Piow for the distribution of self-made DVDs in Ipoh last night was just another example, said the party's leaders.

They said that BN was increasingly resorting to use the police to "systematically harass and impede the free exercise of political freedoms".

In the latest case, Ong was arrested last night at about 10.30pm at the Chin Woo Hall in Ipoh during a film screening organised by Perak DAP.

He was arrested for allegedly violating the Film Censorship Act 2002 for "manufacturing, circulating, distributing, displaying" the ‘Democracy Tree' DVD without first getting a B certificate from the Film Censorship Board.

He was released on personal bond at 1.10 am this morning and is to report back to the police on April 13.

If he is charged and found guilty, he can be fined between RM5,000 and RM30,000 and/or face a three years' jail .

"Such exercise and use of the police force to further the hegemonic practices of the BN is to be condemned in the strongest terms by all freedom loving citizens and members of civil polity," said DAP Youth wing chief and Rasah MP Loke Siew Fook.

Loke also said that the police had failed to provide an answer as to who made the complaint against Ong in the first place.

Increasing intolerance

Party veteran Lim Kit Siang added in to say that this was the latest example of the increasing intolerance towards fundamental liberties in this country.

He said these were ominous signs of increasing repression in Malaysia under incoming Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Just before Ong's run in with the police, several other DAP leaders and the opposition alliance in general had faced similar "escalation of oppressive state actions".

They include:

  • Party chairperson Karpal Singh being charged with sedition for saying he would file a suit against the Sultan of Perak.

  • Sedition investigations against the party's state representative in Johor Dr Boo Cheng Hau over his 'apartheid' remark.

  • The one-year suspension of DAP MP for Puchong, Gobind Singh Deo without parliamentary pay and privileges.

  • The three-month suspension of Harakah and Suara Keadilan .

  • The indiscriminate and high-handed police action against Pakatan Rakyat gatherings and ceramahs.