'Inaction over blood protest irresponsible'
Ahmad Fadli KCPublished: Feb 11, 2014 4:00 AM | Updated: Feb 11, 2014 5:44 AM
Inaction against a group of protesters that slaughtered chickens and smeared its blood on banners of politicians’ faces last week is tantamount to authorities ignoring threats to public order, the Malaysian Bar Council said.
Inaction against a group of protesters that slaughtered chickens and smeared its blood on banners of politicians’ faces last week is tantamount to authorities ignoring threats to public order, the Malaysian Bar Council said.
The Bar's president Christopher Leong (left) said the incident, whereby banners featuring the faces of several DAP and PKR leaders' were smeared with blood and propositions were made to the public to slap Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was dangerous as it also made references to the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
The Bar Council said the actions carried out by the group, which dubbed itself Council of Islamic NGOs, can be viewed as an "incitement and a threat to public order”.
“It is wholly irresponsible of the authorities not to take immediate and firm action," Leong told reporters during a press conference at the Bar Council office in Kuala Lumpur.
Leaders told to show leadership
Leong said those in power appear to be dragging their feet and this may then promote such threatening actions.
"I believe there are a lot of images (of the protest) and it would be very easy for the authorities to identify the participants and take action," he said.
He also expressed his "surprise and disappointment" at the statement made by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi concerning the protest, which took place at downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Ahmad Zahid had said that the open offer of RM500, which was later raised to RM1,200, for anyone to slap Seputeh MP Teresa Kok does not constitute a threat.
He was reported saying that for the police to act, it must be at least have been a murder threat.
"You don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that slapping somebody is at the very least an assault, a criminal offence,” Leong said, adding that the authorities should be fair in resolving such problems.
"The Bar Council calls on those in leadership positions to, in fact, show leadership.
"It is only with fair and even-handed leadership that there is hope that we are able to resolve the tension that prevails... leaders should not instead, by their action or inaction, contribute to such tension," Leong said.
The Bar's president Christopher Leong (left) said the incident, whereby banners featuring the faces of several DAP and PKR leaders' were smeared with blood and propositions were made to the public to slap Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was dangerous as it also made references to the May 13, 1969 racial riots.The Bar Council said the actions carried out by the group, which dubbed itself Council of Islamic NGOs, can be viewed as an "incitement and a threat to public order”.
“It is wholly irresponsible of the authorities not to take immediate and firm action," Leong told reporters during a press conference at the Bar Council office in Kuala Lumpur.
Leaders told to show leadership
Leong said those in power appear to be dragging their feet and this may then promote such threatening actions."I believe there are a lot of images (of the protest) and it would be very easy for the authorities to identify the participants and take action," he said.
He also expressed his "surprise and disappointment" at the statement made by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi concerning the protest, which took place at downtown Kuala Lumpur.
Ahmad Zahid had said that the open offer of RM500, which was later raised to RM1,200, for anyone to slap Seputeh MP Teresa Kok does not constitute a threat.
He was reported saying that for the police to act, it must be at least have been a murder threat.
"You don't need to be a rocket scientist to know that slapping somebody is at the very least an assault, a criminal offence,” Leong said, adding that the authorities should be fair in resolving such problems.
"The Bar Council calls on those in leadership positions to, in fact, show leadership.
"It is only with fair and even-handed leadership that there is hope that we are able to resolve the tension that prevails... leaders should not instead, by their action or inaction, contribute to such tension," Leong said.
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