DAP is willing to face any action for exposing and demanding action against UMNO extremists who promote racial hatred and violence against non-Malay Malaysians

Press Conference

by Lim Guan Eng

(Parliament, Thursday): DAP condemns UMNO Youth President Datuk Hishamuddin Tun Hussein Onn for directing UMNO Youth to lodge police reports for criminal defamation against DAP for lodging reports against UMNO and its delegates for making inflammatory and seditious speeches during the UMNO General Assembly in November 2006. I wish to state that DAP is willing to face any action for exposing and demanding action against UMNO extremists who promote racial hatred and violence against non-Malay Malaysians.

I had directed DAP state leaders throughout the country to lodge police reports for sedition against the UMNO for sedition and would bear full responsibility for the directive I had issued on 18.11.2006. There is no point in having the Sedition Act to preserve racial harmony if the government refuses to uphold and enforce the law in arresting and prosecuting Umno leaders who had committed the offences against the Sedition Act in making such blood-curdling statements:

• Malacca delegate Hasnoor Sidang Hussein who stated that “Umno is willing to risk lives and bathe in blood in defence of race and religion”;
• Umno Youth exco member Azimi Daim, who said “when tension rises, the blood of Malay warriors will run in our veins”;
• Perlis delegate Hashim Suboh, who directed his question at Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein: “Datuk Hisham has unsheathed his keris, waved his keris, kissed his keris. We want to ask Datuk Hisham when is he going to use it.”
• Razak Idris, Ketua Penerangan Pemuda Umno Terengganu who said that “Hak Orang Melayu tidak boleh dicabar, jika tidak orang Melayu akan mengamok, peristiwa Mei 13 akan berulang yang ianya akan lebih teruk daripada tahun 1969 yang akan menjadikan Kuala Lumpur padang terkukur”; and
• Former Minister, former Barisan Nasional and Umno secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Rahmat who warned that the Malays can run amok.

Which self-respecting political party that promotes peace, progress and stability can make speeches like these that would make Nazi’s Adolf Hitler proud? Perhaps such racial hatred from UMNO delegates is not surprising as they have to resort to such extremism to hide their chequred past. For instance Hasnoor Sidang Hussein has a criminal record as he was convicted for criminal breach of trust and yet he is appointed as a senior Melaka public servant by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to manage hundred million ringgit of Melaka International Trade Corporation(MITC)..

Hasnoor was convicted under section 409 of the Penal Code in the Melaka Sessions Court and was sentenced to 9 months imprisonment on 28.4.1995. On appeal to the Melaka High Court on 16.10.1995, the sentence was reduced to one day’s jail and fine of RM 1,500/- in lieu of 6 months jail. This is the type of standard that UMNO delegates have-criminals who cheat the public’s trust and funds! DAP can not understand why Hishamuddin has directed that a police report be made against the DAP when it is UMNO that is threatening the lives and properties of non-Malays. No DAP leader had even threatened any Malaysian, whether non-Malay or Malays, clearly showing that UMNO is trying to distract attention by passing the blame.

Further this report contradicts Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who had said earlier this month that several Umno delegates who touched on extreme racial sensitivities during their speeches at last week’s general assembly may face action by the police. Clearly this police report against the DAP shows that no action would be taken against and that the matter is resolved by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi following their severe reprimand by UMNO Management committee.

If such statements were made by DAP leaders, immediate action would be taken by the BN government under the Sedition Act. Such double-standards and failure to observe the rule of law only demonstrates that UMNO can turn black to white and white to black.

DAP reminds UMNO that Malaysians regardless of race and religion are ashamed of such extremist statements promoting racial hatred and violence, which is criminally wrong, unacceptable, irresponsible not in the national Malaysian spirit. If UMNO wishes to pervert the law, then Malaysians have no choice but to resort to the ballot box to demonstrate their preference for reason over emotion, democratic debate over violence and peace over bloodshed.