vox populi small thumbnail'Even if Ezam claims that his threat wasn't criminal, he is surely responsible for the murderous passion he had managed to stir up.'

Ezam: I didn't mean 'burn' literally

Kleo: If you watch the Malaysiakini video and listen carefully after senator Ezam Mohd Nor starts screaming about burning the online portals, you can actually hear a member of the crowd shouting "Sembelih!" and another shouting "Sembelih hidup-hidup!".

Even if Ezam claims that his threat wasn't criminal (you believe him? I certainly don't), he is surely responsible for the murderous passion he had managed to stir up.

Joe Lee: If the Malaysian law is applied without discrimination, Ezam's utterances are criminal and seditious.

Threatening to inflict damage by burning down buildings (and presumably the people inside them) is also tantamount to terrorism. When Ezam plans his next travel, we shall need to alert both Interpol and FBI.

The world has changed. All Umno fat-cats are going to have their Mubarak moment.

Nil: Ezam can explain and say what he likes, but in the context of what he said at that time, he gave the impression that he meant to destroy Malaysiakini by burning down its offices.

Muraly: Ezam, I am quite certain that you did not really wished to go to news portals and burn it to the ground. However your highly inflammatory words have the effect of raising fires in people who are less educated than you who may in fact actually carry out the deed.

Many would not know that you are speaking metaphorically. What you said is a classic case of inciting the population to violence and if the government does not do anything, than it is endorsing such inflammatory remarks from responsible people like senators and MPs.

Many others would read the government's lack of action as a licence to do the same and somewhere along the line a spark may occur with regrettable consequences.

There are too many people making inciting and inflammatory remarks, it is time for the government to act or openly state that they endorse such inflammatory remarks.

David Dass: Is a Muslim an enemy of Islam because he pursues truth as an objective?

Is a Muslim an enemy of Islam because he or she works for a news portal which publishes diverse viewpoints on events? Is a Muslim and enemy of Islam because he or she takes a different and opposing position on an issue affecting the life of a nation?

Is a Muslim an enemy of Islam if he or she do not regard non-Muslims as 'baruas' and 'kafirs' simply because they express or allow the expression of views which are contrary to the views of Ezam and his followers?

Sarawakian_3ff9: Ezam, that's what happened when you lose your sense and run amok. It's hard to swallow your own words, eh? If you don't mean what you said, then apologise. That's what men do.

Otherwise, just shut up and go hide somewhere and spend time going through your boxes of secrets.

Oscar Kilo: Since Umno owns Utusan Malaysia, I'm sure Umno can use Utusan to counter the reports in Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider. On another note, are there any non-Muslim NGOs investigating Muslims for using public funds to proselytise non-Muslims?

Multi Racial: If the world is rule by Nazri Abdul Aziz and Ezam, then we will have to rewrite all our dictionaries. "Arahan" is not a directive and "burn" is not really burn.

These are the type of politicians that BN has? Can they come out with some real issues and champion them rather then keep doing stupid things like these?

Realistic: Who are they to ask others to repent? If anything, it is them who should repent. It's so irresponsible for the senator to utter such words, especially in the month of Ramadan and after his prayers in the mosque.

Now he is saying he didn't mean it. It's no use because his other Muslim brothers who were with him may take it literally.

He will not be arrested for instigating others to commit crimes because he is from Umno. If it involved others, you can expect swift condemnation and arrest.

Docs: I think Ezam's mouth works faster then his brain. After a good two days, it finally hit him that he can't burn a paperless news portal on the Internet.


Don: EC's response to Bersih 'embarrassing'

David Dass: Many good ideas have emerged from this Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) forum.

These are not new ideas but that they came from a deputy minster and a university professor and. A referendum so that citizens can participate in policy making, said Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. Automatic registration of voters. Also from him.

Saifuddin spoke his mind about making democracy effective. He also spoke of the importance of students and academics in the democratic process and suggested that the Universities and University Colleges Act was an impediment to this synergy.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya dean of social sciences Redzuan Othman lambasted the Election Commission (EC) for its poor response to the Bersih demands.

He also made the point that elections in Malaysia had always been peaceful and the atmosphere was always carnival-like. What wonderful statements. This is a positive view of things. Make democracy our way of life. And make it effective.

Ksn: It is not just the EC's response that is embarrassing, but the entire EC itself is an embarrassment.

Someone, I believe S Ambiga, has pointed out that the chairperson of the EC has the same status as a Federal Court judge. But then that comparison, no doubt proper, is itself embarrassing, knowing how the Federal Court judges give their decisions.

Lim Chong Leong: It has long been established that the EC is Umno's stooge and a component party of the BN. Why is the EC complaining it has no powers when it has, but exercise powers that it does not have, like declaring seats vacant, and now making policy and national security decisions?

1M: "A longer campaign period is not possible for fear that it would create security issues"?

Come on, EC, let the efficient police force handle the security issues, you just make sure democracy is being upheld, and the election is done totally clean. Stop giving excuses on behalf of Umno for the sake of your rice bowl.

 

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