Media Statement by Manogaran in Bukit Gantang on Friday, 3^rd April 2009:

Muhyiddin breaks the very same permit conditions by raising racial and religious issues

Datuk Dr. Zambry Kadir, State Assemblyman for Pangkor, stated that ‘the BN will play by the rules’, a reference to the imposition of certain conditions in the permits for ceramah at the Bukit Gantang by-election. The conditions listed by the police are as follows:

• No instigating the crowd by questioning the Perak Sultan’s decision
• No mention of the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu
• Cannot raise racial and religious issues; and
• Political parties must ensure that the people around at their ceramah is confined to a specific area where the event is being held.

However, speaking before hundreds of people at a public rally in Taman Mewah, near Taiping, newly-elected UMNO Deputy President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, not only contradicted Zambry’s statement but broke the very same permit conditions by raising racial and religious issues during his speech. Firstly, Muhyiddin raised religious issues when he attacked the PAS candidate, Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar bin Jamaluddin, as a ‘Menteri Besar, a PAS leader, a Muslim who wishes to turn this country into an Islamic state…’. Secondly, Muhyiddin stirred up racial issues by saying ‘we could see the decisions made by him (Nizar) that did not reflect his Islamic belief, and he failed to take into consideration the interest of the Malays”.

This represents the blatant flouting and disrespect of the same permit conditions issued by the police force. The BN’s arrogance and utter disrespect for the conduct of free and fair elections has hit a new low through the enlisting of the police in aid of the BN’s selective and arbitrary harassment and persecution of the Pakatan Rakyat parties, particularly the ceramah events.

The DAP calls on the police to remove these permit conditions and that equal stern action be taken against BN leaders such as Muhyiddin Yassin for raising racial and religious issues.

* Manogaran, MP for Teluk Intan