MCA stripped naked as a hypocrite and liar in promising to oppose the hudud bill right up to the highest levels, by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz’s revelation that Cabinet did not discuss the hudud bill at its Cabinet meeting last week. Clearly MCA is playing the classic tactics of saying one thing publicly to the non-Muslim community outside but doing the complete opposite inside Cabinet.
This reminds us of MCA President Liow Tiong Lai’s historic betrayal of his vow to fight for justice, by demanding that Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob apologise to the Chinese community for Ismail’s lies that the Chinese oppresses the Malays and that Chinese traders are to be blamed for not reducing prices? When Ismail Sabri did not apologise for his statement, Liow Tiong Lai meekly surrendered.
Similarly on hudud, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has not revealed BN’s official stand despite meeting with BN leaders on March 19, the same day the hudud amendments were passed by the Kelantan state assembly. Liow Tiong Lai claimed that Najib would issue a statement the next day and hinted that Najib would reiterate BN and UMNO’s stand opposing hudud.
However to-date Najib has failed to do so, leading to speculation that Liow Tiong Lai has again deceived the public. To cover up his failure, Liow had instead tried to distract attention by blaming the DAP for being responsible even though DAP had acted. MCA and Liow’s inaction contrasts with DAP’s severing of all ties with PAS President Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang for tabling the hudud bill in Parliament, without discussing first with the PR Leadership Council as promised by Hadi.
Would Liow or MCA dare to sever all ties with Najib to object against the UMNO ADUNs in Kelantan supporting PAS hudud bill in the Kelantan State Assembly? Najib’s failure to state BN and UMNO’s stand on the hudud bill, shows not only his indecisiveness but that he is irresponsibly playing political games over such an important fundamental constitutional matter.
Malaysian Media Practitioners Have Proven They Will Not Be Cowed But Steadfastly Oppose Curbs Of Press Freedom By BN And The Inspector-General of Police’s(IGP) Abuses of Power, By Hounding, Harassing And Humiliating ‘The Malaysian Insider’(TMI) Publisher and Senior Editors.
Malaysian media activists have proven they will not be cowed but steadfastly oppose curbs of press freedom by BN and the Inspector-General of Police’s(IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar abuses of power, by hounding harassing and humiliating TMI’s publisher and senior editors. Last night’s spirited vigil by many young journalists outside the Dang Wangi police station was a spontaneous action by the media circle showing no fear of the oppressive powers seeking to restrict press freedoms through high-handed and arbitrary arrests.
DAP commends the efforts of the lawyers who manage to secure the release of The Malaysian Insider managing editor Lionel Morais, Bahasa news editor Amin Iskandar and features and analysis editor, Zulkifli Sulong, by persuading the magistrate to reject the police remand applicaton. Unfortunately TMI CEO Jahabar Sadiq and The Edge publisher Ho Kay Tat remain detained overnight pending their remand hearing.
The overwhelming outrage at the arrests of TMI senior executives, not just from international bodies but also ordinary Malaysians, is heartening. Any mistake made must be accounted for, but the punishment meted out must also be proportionate to the offence. For journalists, a retraction and apology followed by fines from defamation suits should suffice. This is international standard practice, any further harsher punishment such as police arrests, is a gross attempt to stifle freedom of expression and the press.
The IGP will regret his arrogance and public disdain for reason, justice and right cause of action. Such false pride will eventually lead not only to his downfall but also BN. Already angered by the financial shenanigans such as the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal and the hardship caused by the imposition of GST today, the public can see through the dirty tactics of BN to divert public attention from BN’s poor governance and failed economic policies.
DAP lauds the 5 TMI senior officers as heroes of press freedom who want to shine the light in Malaysia, as Plato said, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”