Stop harping on violence, Mahathir told
Suffian Abdul RahmanPublished: Apr 1, 2001 10:49 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
A group of 18 concerned citizens lodged a police report today urging the police to take action against caretaker Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad for repeatedly suggesting that riots would break out during the election campaigns.
Over the past few days, Mahathir has "predicted" on at least three occassions that the opposition would resort to violence during the election campaign. "We used to see these things in other countries, and this is being imported into the country," he said. His remarks were carried by TV3 on Nov 16, Utusan Melayu on Nov 10, 14 and 15, and New Straits Times on Nov 17 and 19.
Lee Siew Hwa, one of the 18 individuals lodging the report, believes that the issue of violence is being grossly overstated. "Mahathir is trying to to instil fear among voters," said Lee.
Lee believes that those with little access to information provided by the Opposition would actually believe that riots are going to happen. "They will be more vulnerable to such threats of violence," she said.
According to Lee, such warnings of violence would make the Chinese community more apprehensive as they harken back to last year's racial riots in Indonesia and thus remind Malaysians of their very own tragedy in May 13,1969.
"The fear of violent reprisals, something which is very real, will encourage Chinese voters to be more conservative and perhaps fear any transitions in government," said Lee.
The reason for the police report is to put a stop to such proclamations so as to allay the voters' fears, she said. "We hope that the police will play a greater role in ensuring the safety of voters during the elections. We also hope that the police will take our report seriously and convey the message to the higher authorities."
However, if the police are unsuccessful in ending such remarks of possible violence, Lee said the group will go to the police headquarters in Bukit Aman to request a meeting. "And if that doesn't work out, we may sue the police for being willing tools of the state," she said.
Over the past few days, Mahathir has "predicted" on at least three occassions that the opposition would resort to violence during the election campaign. "We used to see these things in other countries, and this is being imported into the country," he said. His remarks were carried by TV3 on Nov 16, Utusan Melayu on Nov 10, 14 and 15, and New Straits Times on Nov 17 and 19.
Lee Siew Hwa, one of the 18 individuals lodging the report, believes that the issue of violence is being grossly overstated. "Mahathir is trying to to instil fear among voters," said Lee.
Lee believes that those with little access to information provided by the Opposition would actually believe that riots are going to happen. "They will be more vulnerable to such threats of violence," she said.
According to Lee, such warnings of violence would make the Chinese community more apprehensive as they harken back to last year's racial riots in Indonesia and thus remind Malaysians of their very own tragedy in May 13,1969.
"The fear of violent reprisals, something which is very real, will encourage Chinese voters to be more conservative and perhaps fear any transitions in government," said Lee.
The reason for the police report is to put a stop to such proclamations so as to allay the voters' fears, she said. "We hope that the police will play a greater role in ensuring the safety of voters during the elections. We also hope that the police will take our report seriously and convey the message to the higher authorities."
However, if the police are unsuccessful in ending such remarks of possible violence, Lee said the group will go to the police headquarters in Bukit Aman to request a meeting. "And if that doesn't work out, we may sue the police for being willing tools of the state," she said.
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