Media statement by Teresa Kok Suh Sim in Shah Alam on Tuesday, 7^th September 2010:

The absurd, irrational charge against Ong Boon Piow stinks of political intimidation and must be dropped immediately

The Perak State prosecutor's charge against Tebing Tinggi assemblyman Ong Boon Piow for possessing 23 DVDs of the Perak "tree assembly" without approval from the Censorship Board again exposes the dirty tactics that the Perak state government will resort to to suppress information and intimidate their political opponents.

This case against Ong is clear-cut selective prosecution intended to intimidate BN's political opponents. When illegal DVDs are commonly available in every corner, it is ridiculous that Ong Boon Piow be singled out for punishment.

Since MCA Perak has also distributed thousands of similar DVDs during that period and no charges were laid, the rule of natural justice dictates there must not be any prosecution in Ong's case.

If convicted, Ong could be fined up to RM30,000 or jailed up to 3 years or both, and following that, disqualified as a state assemblyman. I believe that this trumped up charge is yet another underhanded tactic by Barisan Nasional to takeover another seat in the Perak assembly as they did in 2009.

The charge against Ong must be dropped immediately to retain any semblance of credibility for the government of Perak.

* Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Selangor State Senior EXCO for Investment, Industry & Trade & MP for Seputeh