Yesterday, The Star reported that Home Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi has lambasted the action of a protester who tore down a banner wishing people a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year outside the Perak DAP headquarters on Friday.
Zahid was quoted saying, “We should respect other faiths. I have been consistent in my view that if we want our religion to be respected, we must also respect others.”
Zahid is telling the obvious when he say it is wrong for Perkasa man to rip a Christmas banner. What Malaysians want to know is why is there no action taken by the police after more than 48 hours of the “Perkasa Christmas Banner Ripping”?
Zahid claimed to be consistent in his view but he is clearly not consistent in his action. Would he issue the same reprimand without action should a non-Muslim rip a Hari Raya banner in front of UMNO headquarters? I have no doubt that if the opposite happen, the culprit would be arrested immediately on the spot.
Zahid can talk the talk, but can he walk the talk by instructing the IGP to immediately arrest the culprit that have rip the banner?
Perkasa protest and ripping of Christmas banner in front of Perak DAP headquarters is an offence under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and The Penal Code.
DAP Perak Chairman Nga Kor Ming has already sent the video recordings and photos of the incident to Acting Perak police chief Deputy Comm Datuk A. Paramasivam and Ipoh Police Chief ASP Sum Chang Keong last Friday. With strong and sufficient evidence, there is absolutely no excuse for the police inaction against the culprits who have violated the law and cross the red line by ripping a Christmas banner just 6 days before the Christmas Day.