UPDATE3 KUALA LUMPUR - In a move that many in the Chinese community see as another example of racial bullying, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was charged for sedition at the Sessions Court for a controversial Chinese New Year video clip that went viral on YouTube.
However, the 50-year-old DAP leader was not cowed by the perceived intimidation. She pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to the charge under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 for publishing the video titled "Teresa Kok 'Onederful' Malaysia CNY 2014".
If found guilty, she is liable to face a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a three year jail term or both if found guilty.
"Anyone who had seen my video will know that it is a political satire where the issues and jokes are based on topics of discussions by ordinary people in the country," Kok told reporters outside the courtroom.
She named Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, the late Karpal Singh, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Seri Setia Assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Seremban MP Anthony Loke and Ipoh Timur MP Thomas Su as being among the other political leaders who have been targeted by Prime Minister Najib Razak's government. All of them have been charged since the May 5, 2013 general election that was controversially won by Najib's Umno-BN coalition.
What do you mean by seditious - anything that is politically disadvantageous to Umno?
Kok's 11- minute long political satire touched on several issues including education, wealth, economy, tourism and the Lahad Datu incursion, among others.
In the clip released during the Lunar new year celebrations in January, Kok had played a talk show host who interviewed a panel of experts on what to expect in the Year of the Horse, for which she was accused of insulting Malays, Islam, the monarchy, the security forces, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor.
This morning, the court interpreter also read out the part of the video which contained Malay subtitles that were allegedly seditious.
However, Kok's lawyer Sankara Nair said that a sedition charge is usually brought on when there is disaffection towards a Ruler or the people in general. In Kok's case, there was no proof that anyone was unhappy with the satire, he said.
"It is only the same old pressure group that keeps jumping up and down all the time and that cannot be seen as disaffection," said Sankara.
Meanwhile, Kok slammed Najib for his "hollow promise" to repeal the Sedition Act, which Kok labelled as an outdated draconian law which should have been thrown into the dustbin.
"Prosecuting me over a simple political satire not only shows how hollow and insincere is the prime minister's promise to repeal the Sedition Act. It also shows the extent of political darkness that has descended on this nation after the last general election," Kok said.
Targeting the Chinese while chicken-and-slap Malay ultra group escapes untouched
As the video went viral, Kok received a barrage of insults and hundreds of police reports were lodged against her.
One group, calling themselves the Council of Islamic NGOs, even launched a "chicken-and-slap-protest", offering a RM1,200 reward to anyone who would slap Kok for her video. The group slaughtered chickens in the middle of a public road and smeared the blood from the dead fowl all over posters of Kok and other Chinese leaders.
Miraculously, despite civil society and legal experts lambasting the violent and clear-cut criminal nature of the slaughter and slap threat, no police action has been taken against the Malay group.
"We are satisfied with the authorities for charging her with sedition. She can be an example of what happens to those who want to stir up religious sensitivities," group spokesman and Pertubuhan Permuafakatan Majlis Ayahanda Malaysia (Permas) secretary-general Zulkifli Sharif was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insider.
Not the first bullying case, will it be the last? What should the Chinese do?
Apart from Kok, controversial bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee have also been charged for sedition over a Ramadan greeting that ultra Malay groups claimed insulted Islam. While in bad taste, legal experts have lambasted 'political lynching' of the young couple as a bid by Prime Minister Najib Razak's Malay-dominated party to curry favor with a naive rural electorate.
Another Chinese politician, PKR's Lee Khai Loon was also accused of sedition when he poked fun at Najib for using 'kangkong' or water-spinach as an example to justify the government's claim that prices of goods had not escalated as claimed by the Opposition.
Kok was represented by Sankara Nair while Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhamad Iskandar Ahmad prosecuted.
Kok is alleged to have committed the offence at 90-02-07, Apartment Putra Ria on Jalan Bangsar at about 9am on Feb 1, 2014.
Sessions Judge Norsharidah Awang fixed bail at RM4,000 bail with one surety and set June 9 for case management. Trial will commence from Sept 2 to 5. - Malaysia Chronicle
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.