Fake tweet makes Surendran out to be a racist

Lawyers for Liberty say police must investigate the BN bloggers who initiated the tweet.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: Padang Serai MP N. Surendran lodged  police reports today against  pro BN bloggers whose tweet depicts him as a racist.

The report was lodged at the Dang Wangi police station.

“This is a very serious issue and the tweet is far from reality. We believe the tweet was created to depict Surendran as a racist,” said Eric Paulsen from Lawyers for Liberty .

According to Paulsen , the falsified tweet states “Almost everyday policemen are killed in India. But in Malaysia when a Malay policeman is killed, it becomes a big issue.”

He said the tweet has smeared Surendran’s name and damaged his reputation.

“The police must take this falsification of a public tweet seriously. If Rosmah, for example, is wronged, the police are very protective of her. Why can’t they do the same for PKR members?” asked Paulsen.

The falsified and photoshoped tweet was sent out on May 22 and went viral on social media networks. It depicted Surendren as mocking the death of a Malay police officer who was killed while on duty.

“I have to reiterate that this isn’t the first time a politically motivated attack on Opposition leaders was ignored by the police,” Surendran told reporters.

According to PKR’s Communications Director, Fahmi Fadzil, they believe the attack was premeditated.

“It takes time to photoshop the wordings onto a background with Surendran’s picture on it. This has been planned,” he stressed.

“We hope the police can take swift action against those responsible for crimes like this and put a stop to phone hackings on opposition leaders,”he added.

Paulsen told reporters that the criminals responsible for the attacks can be punished under the penal code for forgery,  causing public mischief, and also anonymous communications.

“This is not a matter of public interest or even freedom of speech.  We really hope the police will not be selective when it comes to investigating this matter,” said Paulsen.