Kedah MB's macabre humour fails to tickle DAP Youth members, reports lodged

 

Incensed over Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's joke about containers being turned into makeshift morgues for deceased Covid-19 patients, Batu Kawan DAP Youth members lodged four police reports against him.

Malaysiakini understands that the reports were filed with the Seberang Perai district police headquarters yesterday.

“As a public representative who is meant to be responsible, he should not have made such a statement,” said one of the complainants, Yoganathan Loganathan.

“His remarks give the impression that he does not care about people's lives nor respects those who died because of Covid-19,” he told Malaysiakini.

In his report, sighted by Malaysiakini, Yoganathan accused the menteri besar of making light of a serious situation when the people are suffering.

“No one should insult the dead as it is insensitive and hurts the feelings of their families and friends,” he added.

On Aug 6, Sanusi reminded residents during a press conference in Sungai Petani to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) against Covid-19 as hospitals were struggling to cope with the number of patients.

Asked if there were sufficient containers to house the dead, the menteri besar quipped: “Containers for the dead are enough, who wants to go in can give their names.”

Sanusi subsequently apologised for his remark and claimed that it was taken out of context.

He said the joke was directed at the journalists present, who he felt were “part of his family” but was misconstrued as a message to the public.

Concerned citizens

However, a member of his staff went on to lodge police reports against those who censured the menteri besar on social media.

Police have since detained several individuals, including a 61-year-old senior citizen, who made a nine-minute video deriding Sanusi.

Meanwhile, another complainant from DAP Youth, who declined to be named, argued that it was inappropriate and unprofessional for Sanusi to make the statement.

“My colleagues and I were upset and offended by his statement, so we made the report as concerned citizens,” he added.

Asked if the pair feared counter reports being lodged against them, the DAP Youth members said their reports were not meant to defame the menteri besar but to ensure that leaders behave in a responsible manner.

“I will only be afraid if I make a false claim or slander the menteri besar, '' one of them said. - Mkini