(Petaling Jaya, Friday): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s insistence that legal prosecution still be taken against Wee Meng Chee despite Cabinet accepting his apology made on Tuesday that was engineered by MCA through Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, has sowed confusion and eroded public confidence amongst Malaysians and foreign investors. Despite Cabinet’s acceptance of the apology, Ministers such as Gerakan’s Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik (according to Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Mydin) has made it clear that they will not forgive Wee and seek their pound of flesh and liter of blood from Wee Meng Chee. 

This is confusing and irresponsible. DAP does not expect BN and its Ministers to adopt the philosophy of 17^th century English poet, Alexander Pope that “to err is human, but to forgive divine”. But the mind boggles as to how an apology can be accepted and yet not be forgiven, insisting instead that action be taken? Or is this another Malaysia Boleh logic? 

This makes a complete mockery of Cabinet’s position of accepting Wee’s apology in the first place. If China can forgive but not forget the Japanese for their barbaric and inhuman atrocities during the Second World War where millions of Chinese were tortured and murdered, especially during the Nanking Massacre, what is so difficult about the Malaysian government doing so.  

DAP demands a full explanation from Gerakan President and Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon as to refusal of Keng Yaik and Gerakan to forgive Wee and insistence that action be taken. Such an unprincipled position of blindly supporting UMNO is completely at variance not only with their supporters but members as well. 

From a position by Dr Chua and Deputy Ministers such as Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow of treating the matter closed after accepting Wee’s apology to all Malaysians and the government to the Cabinet re-opening the matter for prosecution the very next day has made the Abdullah administration looked indecisive with all the hallmarks of inconsistency and lack of firm direction.

Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek should immediately resign in principle to protest against Cabinet’s decision to act against Wee Meng Chee

Is the apology a sandiwara by Chua to get Wee to apologise and admit his mistake so that it is easier to prosecute and charge him? Or is this another example of MCA playing politics of doing one thing outside but another inside Cabinet. Chua is insulting the intelligence of the people if after supporting Cabinet’s decision to prosecute Wee, he still says that MCA will continue to assist Wee.

If Chua is sincere in helping Wee and opposing Cabinet’s decision, he should immediately apologise and resign from Cabinet on principle in protest. DAP sympathises with Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat who has only realized now that MCA “is powerless” when he even made the remarkable claim that what Nazri said is his personal opinion and not the Cabinet. 

Both Minister in the Prime Minister Datuk Nazri Aziz and Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim has even rejected Wee’s apology and that Cabinet wants the Attorney-General to investigate and take action under the Sedition Act for an offence against the nation by allegedly mocking the Negaraku and offending the sensitivities of Muslims. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi said that “the process of law has to take place and what is wrong has to be corrected” and was more inclined towards using the National Anthem Act.

A legal panel comprising of DAP and NGO lawyers from all races to defend Wee from any legal prosecution by the Federal government 

Whether the government intends to use the National Anthem Act or the Sedition Act, DAP will form a legal panel comprising both DAP lawyers and those from the NGOs comprising all races to defend Wee. We are defending Wee not because we  believe in his creative right to sing within limits but also to defend democracy as well as freedom of expression and the mass media from further encroachment, curbs and restrictions by the BN government. 

Up to now the government has not made a legal case where Wee had gone wrong in offending the laws of the land such as sedition. True, his use of coarse of foul language is wrong and unacceptable but this is not sedition. Giving him advice and allowing him to apologise for such coarse language should be adequate. 

Both DAP and NGOs wants to prove that Malaysians from all races abhor the abuse of the entire machinery to persecute and ordinary university student by appealing to baser instincts of patriotism. Whilst we may appreciate English writer Samuel Johnson’s words that, “Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels”, the entire episode has darkened the mood of the 50^th Merdeka anniversary celebrations. 

If members of the administration are confused at what is happening, how can foreign investors have confidence in Malaysia’s economy if decisions can be changed within a day? Such firm direction, certainty and consistency is required to inspire confidence in our capital market to bounce back quickly from its present slump which dropped 166 points or 12% in a mere two weeks. 

The latest episode against an ordinary Malaysian student studying in Taiwan demonstrates the extreme lengths and absurd levels that UMNO and MCA would go, to curb online dissent, stifle diverse views and silence youthful voices. Nazri had also said that he wanted action to be taken against YouTube and other bloggers who allowed sensitive material which went against the laws of Malaysia to be published. Is this how we face up to the challenges of globalization by closing down on freedom of the internet and imposing a wall of silence throughout Malaysia? 

Nazri had also deliberately twisted and distorted my statement stressing support for Wee is not because DAP approves fully what he said but to defend Wee’s right to exercise his freedom of expression. However that does not mean that there is no legal recourse available. If anyone feels defamed, then he can sue Wee for defamation in civil courts. 

However to employ the entire government machinery against one ordinary student is an abuse of power and smacks of political expediency to play the patriotic card during the 50^th Merdeka anniversary celebrations. DAP has not seen how Wee’s rap video has angered Malays or non-Malays and neither have we detected any increase in racial tensions or threats to national security that requires action under the ISA or revocation of his citizenship. 

The only party stirring up the issue with provocative and inflammatory threats of May 13 is UMNO. There is no such tension as imagined by UMNO is due to the fact that Wee is neither a politician nor a member of any political party but a university student in Taiwan whose rap video does not have great significance in Malaysia’s political milieu. Clearly UMNO is making a mountain out of a molehill to gain extra political mileage before the coming general elections. DAP warns UMNO that this is a dangerous game to play and UMNO, MCA, Gerakan and BN has to be fully responsible for any consequences.