FT Umno Youth fears for safety of those who take down BN flags

GE14 | Federal Territories BN Youth chief Razlan Rafii has warned Pakatan Harapan supporters to stop taking down BN flags, citing fears for the safety of those who do.

"I warn Harapan to stop this act of sabotaging BN assets because we fear (what will happen) if we can't ensure the safety of those who dare to continue to do such things," Razlan said in a statement today.

Razlan, who is also Federal Territories Umno Youth chief, was commenting on the three individuals who were arrested for taking down BN flags in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

Razlan alleged that the three were Harapan supporters, and that several cars "ordered by Harapan" were involved in the incident.

The three women were arrested after taking down BN flags along Jalan Leong Yew Koh, putting them in plastic bags, and bringing them to the nearby police station.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim later clarified that the women were not involved in any political parties.

He said the women had taken down the flags on their own accord, because local councils had not responded to their complaints that the flags had gone up before the official campaign period.

'Opposition lackeys'

Razlan dismissed this as the women protecting their "boss."

"They are opposition lackeys who want to protect the boss who gives them instructions.

"I want to bring them to areas with PKR flags and ask them and their friends to take down the PKR flags," he told Malaysiakini.

Campaign season officially starts on nomination day, April 28.

Most local authorities, including the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, prohibit party flags from being put up before that date.

Meanwhile, former Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah said the arrest of the women was unfair.

"Although the three individuals should have contacted their local authorities instead of cutting down the flags themselves, their arrest is absolutely unnecessary.  

"I also have to question why the police have arrested these women, but not acted against those who put up the flags, especially since it clearly violates election laws," Maria said. - Mkini