Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon has slammed the “burger protest” and the “butt dance” incidents outside Bersih chief S Ambiga’s home as “crude and insensitive”.
“Besides observing the rule of law, moderation, decency and sensitivity must be practised in exercising the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said Koh in a statement today.
Koh said some religious leaders have expressed their concern and disgust at the actions of the respective parties, who had held demonstrations in front of the Bersih leader’s private residence.
“Just as I do not agree with street demonstrations as a means of expression, I also do not agree with such protests, in whatever way, outside the homes of leaders and individuals,” said Koh, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
“Besides observing the rule of law, moderation, decency and sensitivity must be practised in exercising the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said Koh in a statement today.
Koh said some religious leaders have expressed their concern and disgust at the actions of the respective parties, who had held demonstrations in front of the Bersih leader’s private residence.“Just as I do not agree with street demonstrations as a means of expression, I also do not agree with such protests, in whatever way, outside the homes of leaders and individuals,” said Koh, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
He noted that the peddling of beef burgers outside Ambiga’s home was “crude and insensitive” as the latter is Hindu as well as a vegetarian.
“There are other more constructive and positive ways to express our dissatisfaction. In doing o, we must practise moderation, or wasatiyah in Islam, and keep in mind religious and ultural sensitivities,” he said.
Koh added that the burger protest has likely contravened Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) regulations as the lawyer’s home is “not in a designated hawking area”.
“There are other more constructive and positive ways to express our dissatisfaction. In doing o, we must practise moderation, or wasatiyah in Islam, and keep in mind religious and ultural sensitivities,” he said.
Koh added that the burger protest has likely contravened Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) regulations as the lawyer’s home is “not in a designated hawking area”.
The Gerakan chief is the first BN leader who has publicly condemned the acts after conspicuous silence from the ruling party.
On Tuesday army veterans staged a protest against the rally for clean and fair elections by doing ‘butt exercises’ in front of Ambiga’s house.
This follows a highly criticised 'burger protest' last week by a KL hawkers’ group Ikhlas who claimed that the mammoth Bersih 3.0 for electoral reform had affected their business.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has slammed the hawkers’ protest for abusing the freedom to assemble by violating Ambiga’sprivate space.
This follows a highly criticised 'burger protest' last week by a KL hawkers’ group Ikhlas who claimed that the mammoth Bersih 3.0 for electoral reform had affected their business.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has slammed the hawkers’ protest for abusing the freedom to assemble by violating Ambiga’sprivate space.
Meanwhile deputy police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said the protests were not an offence, saying they were conducted in a “public space”.
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