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Cabinet tomorrow should restore a sense of
proportion, apply the brake and end the frenzy demanding mandatory jail
sentence for illegal VCD peddlers by referring the whole issue to the
parliamentary select committee on the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code
for public feedback and recommendation
Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
(Parliament,
Tuesday): The Cabinet tomorrow should restore a sense of
proportion, apply the brake and end the frenzy demanding mandatory jail
sentence for illegal VCD peddlers by referring the whole issue to the
parliamentary select committee on the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code
for public feedback and recommendation.
Whether the kingpins of illegal VCD syndicates should come under a law
entailing mandatory jail sentence on conviction is open to debate and
discussion, but it is clearly ludicrous and outrageous to impose a mandatory
jail sentence on illegal VCD peddlers, who are invariably teenagers and not
employed.
Such teenagers peddling illegal VCDs may have broken the law and should be
suitably punished, but must they be condemned by society to a term of jail
sentence, as if they have committed graver crimes than snatch thiefs who
cause bodily harm, psychological trauma and deprived Malaysians the
fundamental rights to be free from crime and the fear of crime or the
corrupt who pocketed millions or tens of millions of ringgit who enjoy
immunity from prosecution and even investigation?
Sunday Mail reported the gross and blatant abuses of power by Federal
Territory Religious Department (JAWI) enforcement officers and the
mistreatment and humiliations suffered by some 100 Muslim youths, men and
women, in a 10-hour ordeal following a raid at a Kuala Lumpur club in the
wee hours of Jan. 20.
Not only the parents and relatives of the victims of the mistreatment and
humiliation by the JAWI enforcement officers are incensed, but all sensible
Malaysians, regardless of religion, race or political affiliation, are
outraged and have the right to be outraged!
Is any Cabinet Minister going to suggest that public officials like JAWI
enforcement officers who abuse their powers, mistreat and humiliate members
of the public in such a fashion reminding Malaysians of the American
military abuses of Iraqi prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq should
face mandatory jail sentences under a new law?
Something will have gone terribly wrong with morality and the proper sense
of values in Malaysia if teenage illegal VCD peddlers are mandatorily sent
to jail while worse and more wicked wrongdoers can go scot-free or escape
lightly. The Cabinet meeting tomorrow should send out a clear message that
Malaysia has not gone down such a slippery slope.
(25/1/2005)
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Lim Kit Siang,
Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP
Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission
Chairman
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