DAP MP for Bagan Lim Hock Seng criticised the Home Ministry in Parliament today for double standards when dealing with opposition and Barisan Nasional supporters.

He said that it is everyone's wish that the situation at Petaling Jaya Selatan, where racial clashes erupted early this month, return to normal, but there had been various versions on why the clashes happened, which led to rumour-mongering.

"Firstly, BN Youth went there and said that the incidents happened because of gangsterism. Then, the prime minister said that the clashes were caused by Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor. Later, the works minister blamed the community's socio-economic conditions for the clashes. Lastly, the police said that there was a conspiracy to prolong the situation. Which version is the right one?" queried Lim.

Lim said that when Ezam was accused of wanting to topple the government through a statement made in a daily newspaper, he was arrested and investigated immediately.

He added that DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock and Keadilan president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were also called in for questioning immediately when they were alleged to have questioned the police figure on the death toll caused by the clashes.

"What about the statements made by BN supporters? None of them were called in for questioning," said Lim.

"How does the government want to convince the people that they are acting fairly? Indeed, we need a White Paper to investigate all the rumours leading to the clashes," he added.

Street demonstrations

Home Affairs Deputy Minister Zainal Abidin Zin, in replying said that the opposition needed to know police procedures regarding investigation and why immediate action has to be taken.

Questioning the death toll, said Zainal, was a serious matter as it involved people's lives.

He welcomed Lim to be a witness and to lodge a report at any police station if Lim had any doubts regarding the death toll.

At this juncture, Lim interjected and said that he was quoting what other people had said (about the death toll). He stressed that he was not questioning the death toll and urged Zainal not to implicate him in the matter later.

In a related matter, Zainal clarified that police, in order to maintain national security, have to weigh many factors before allowing permits for street demonstrations.

He said that before a ceramah takes place, the police will monitor the situation, and if they find that problems will occur, they will deny the permit.

"When the ceramah involves many people, they may be certain quarters like gangsters or robbers who will take advantage of the situation," said Zainal.

"That is why, after police have monitored the situation and found it to be unsafe, they will not allow permits for such gatherings," he said.

Dislocated shoulder

DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock questioned why tear gas was often used on peaceful gatherings and if they had been a change of policy since it has never been used before.

Zainal said that certain procedures were needed when the situation was not calm and when chaos was expected to occur.

He related a story about cows and cows sheds, saying that, sheds were needed to keep the cows in. "You do not wait for trouble to happen (as in cows trying to escape) and then ask 'how come there is no shed?'" said Zainal, much to the amusement of the House.

PAS MP for Pokok Sena Mahfuz Omar told Zainal about an incident in Malau (Kedah) where FRU police intruded a ceramah and beat up an 11-year old boy, until his shoulder was dislocated.

He said the boy was warded at a hospital and the kampung people were shocked at the incident as many of them had never seen a FRU truck before.

He added that although the organisers followed police orders as to the location of the stage for the speakers, police insisted on breaking-up the ceramah .

Zainal criticised Mahfuz for portraying the kampung folks as people who are 'ignorant' and 'primitive' as many of them have been to schools.

"If they are so ignorant and primitive, how come they are at a ceramah ?" asked Zainal.

'Strong reasons'

As to Mahfuz's complaint that police intervened even though orders were followed and a police permit issued, Zainal told Mahfuz to make a police report on the police officer involved and the ministry will take appropriate action as he considered the matter a "special case".

However, if the report is not true, than action will be taken on those who made false reports, Zainal said.

Upon hearing that Mahfuz had to make a police report, DAP MP for Bukit Mertajam Chong Eng stood up and expressed disappointment that words uttered in Parliament, the highest government body, were not taken seriously.

"The deputy minister is not responsible because he does not take words spoken in Parliament seriously. Why do we still need to make a police report? We are even threatened that if the report is false, action will be taken. Yet, the prime minister recently said that ours is not a police state," she said.

Zainal stressed that the police report must be made before police convene investigations.

"We cannot investigate when something is not official. We need strong reasons to take action. When accusations are reported, we will take action," he said.

"If one is afraid to make police reports, don't speak in Parliament. Look at Mahfuz, he is even prepared to go to jail or die for something he said," Zainal added.