Pakatan livid over Umno MP, BN distances itself

Pakatan wants authorities to investigate Mohamad Aziz for his "extremist and racist" remarks and the BN leadership distances itself from the Umno MP.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno MP for Sri Gading, Mohamad Aziz, who called for Bersih 3.0 co-chair S Ambiga to be hanged for treason must face the law for his “extremist and racist” remarks, said DAP.

Calling Mohamad a “samseng”, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said: “We were very shocked and outraged by the repulsive, repugnant and derogatory remarks made yesterday by the Sri Gading MP, that we should hang Ambiga just because she was a co-chair of Bersih.”

Lim said this was a first time in the the history of Malaysia that an MP has called for the “murder” of someone else.

“Clearly these remarks are inflammatory, designed to stir disaffection, is extremist and racist. This is seditious, threatening the life of Ambiga,” said Lim.

“Why is this racist? Because his remarks were only targeted at Ambiga as she is a woman, a Hindu and an Indian.”

Asked if race was specifically mentioned, Lim admitted that it was not, but added: “It’s obvious isn’t it? Why just Ambiga? Why not against the other co-chair?”

Lim said that DAP would be lodging a report against Mohamad tomorrow as “there is no point asking him to apologise or retract.”

“We hope the police will take appropirate action. It is a very serious statement made by a government MP,” he said, adding that he had called Ambiga to express DAP’s support.

Asked if Mohamad enjoyed immunity as his remarks were made in parliament, Lim said the Umno MP had gone against certain exceptions to the immunity as prescribed under Article 63 of the Federal Constitution.

“There are exceptions to this immunity and it touches on citizenship rights, race, rulers, among others. And what he said definitely falls under these,” he said. “You are asking somebody to be hanged. Don’t bully her.”

A new low

Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said that PKR would also follow up on the issue.

“I messaged Ambiga last night and we were outraged. MPs were outraged as it was an uncalled for remark, coupled with the attacks against (DAP-Batu Gajah) Fong Poh Kuan who was speaking about crime,” she said.

“PKR will do the necessary. I really felt that we reached a new low last night.”

Nurul said that parliamentary immunity seems to have been abused by Mohamad to “vilify and disparage” an individual. She said his actions have “tainted” the Dewan.

Late last night, Mohamad called for Ambiga to be hanged for the “treasonous” act of organising the April 28 Bersih rally for free and fair elections.

He reportedly compared Ambiga to leaders of the Al-Ma’unah militants who tried to overthrow the government in 2000 and were eventually sentenced to death by hanging for “waging war against the King,” the first people to be convicted of the offence.

“Shouldn’t we also hang Ambiga for treason towards the Agong? Traitors should be punished as harshly as possible,” said Mohamad.

Lenggong MP Shamsul Anuar Nasarah then stood up in support of Aziz: “Agree, absolutely agree with you.”

In related development, Barisan Nasional secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said Mohamad’s statement was his personal opinion and did not reflect the ruling coalition’s stand.

“BN always respects the law and we leave investigations involving Bersih at the hands of the authorities,” said Tengku Adnan in a statement.