PETALING JAYA - Various quarters have joined the chorus of disappointment over the actions of a few individuals who behaved degradingly towards government leaders and carried flags allegedly meant as alternative to the Jalur Gemilang during the recent Merdeka eve celebration at Dataran Merdeka.
In a statement, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng expressed disapproval at the few who stepped on pictures of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak
In doing so, he also called on Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to act decisively against those who had committed similar acts to degrade Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
"Clearly there is selective prosecution and double standards by not demanding for stern action against Perkasa members who burnt or stepped on my portrait outside my office in Komtar and performed funeral rites on my portrait outside my house," he said today.
"To date, no court action is taken against these perpetrators who showed disrespect on portraits of PR leaders," he added.
Lim took to task Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon for linking the behaviour of stepping on Najib's portrait to the Oppos
"It is irresponsible to blame the Opposition for an act that was clearly not our doing," Lim said.
He added that there was also no action taken when a group behaved in a similar manner against Bersih co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.
Ambiga had a derogatory "butt dance" performed by a few army veterans outside her house. She also had beef burgers grilled in front of her home when she is a practising Hindu and a vegetarian.
Meanwhile, PKR Youth denied allegations it wanted to change the national flag. Its chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin said this although their Deputy Publicity Chief Najwan Halimi had reportedly designed the 'Sang Saka Malaya', inspired by Putera-AMCJA (All-Malaya Council of Joint Action) people's coalition of 1947, that became the subject of controversy after the 'Janji Demokrasi' event on Merdeka eve.
"Najwan designed it in 2007, and some youth had taken it as a manifestation of their patriotism. I have no problems with anyone who wishes to fly the 'Sang Saka Malaya' as an expression to acknowledge the country's historical development," he told a press conference today.
He described what happened as a manifestation of the youths' observation of history to celebrate the spirit of past Independence figures such as Dr Burhanuddin Helmy and Ishak Haji Muhammad (Pak Sako) during whose time the flag was introduced.
Shamsul challenged Umno to change its own flag, the 'Sang Saka Bangsa' should its members find the element 'Sang Saka' a threat to national security.
He stressed that the issue has no basis to be politicised at all just because there were some youths who happen to have different ideas and opinions in viewing the country's history.
"What is clear is that this issue is being blown out of proportion as if it has potential of becoming a threat to the nation's security," said Shamsul.
He also denied knowing the individuals involved in the act of stomping on Najib's portraits, pointing that he and his team will even assist in finding the group in order for the authorities to take the necessary action against them.
However, he also urged the police to take the same action against the individuals who had done the same towards the oppo
Meanwhile, Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia (Ikatan) president Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said it was unfortunate that after 55 years of independence, people's behaviour had regressed.
"Politics is becoming dirtier by the day and it does not in any way reflect the maturity which should have been gained all this time," said Abdul Kadir who had served as the Merdeka Day organising committee chairman from 1999 to 2006, during his term as a federal lawmaker.
He cited several incidents, including the flag controversy, and recent attacks to a bus used for PKR's Jelajah Merdeka Rakyat roadshow in Kelantan, as examples of acts which should be condemned.
"The authorities should put an immediate stop to such acts by taking stern and unbiased action towards the responsible parties to prevent it from becoming a trend and making Malaysia a laughing stock to the world," he stressed.
-thesundaily
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.