Baru Bian: ‘Nothing to Hide’ violence points to troubled times ahead

Sarawak PKR leader thinks incidents of mob violence will cease if only the IGP or the PM were to loudly and clearly condemn them.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawakians and Sabahans view mob incidents in west Malaysia, such as the violence at the ‘Nothing to Hide’ forum, with alarm, according to Sarawak PKR chairman Baru Bian.

These incidents were signs of an unhealthy trend in this country, which, he said, could have been avoided if the Inspector-General of Police and the prime minister would make clear and unequivocal statements against all acts of violence and public disorder.

“Instead we are becoming increasingly bewildered at the rapid decline of our country under the rule of Najib Razak and his Umno cohorts,” the Ba’ Kelalan assemblyman said.

Describing the violence at the “Nothing To Hide” forum on Sunday as a sign of troubled times ahead for this country, he added: “There is a noticeable decline in law and order in this country without any seemingly corresponding increase in vigilance and action by the police.

“Mobs seem to be widely available for hire for as low as RM50 to cause trouble and create tensions in the public arena. Perhaps we should not be surprised by this latest incident as the opposition’s events have been increasingly subjected to this sort of violent disruption by paid thugs.”

He asked what the police were doing when the violence was happening at the forum, adding: “This does not engender any confidence in the public that the police will protect all citizens equally where the situation of need arises.”

In a statement today, Baru said: “It is telling of the decline of the moral compass of the prime minister and his party Umno when his aide, instead of condemning the violence, placed the blame on Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and Bersatu (PPBM).”

He was referring to a statement by the prime minister’s press secretary, Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad, who said that the “PPBM was entirely responsible for the event”, and that to blame the pandemonium on Umno was “an attempt by the opposition to cover up the shameless action of its own members”.

Baru said: “This gives rise to the perception that the country’s leaders have lost all sense of right and wrong, and that acts of violence against the opposition seem to be justifiable.

“No wonder the country’s youths dare to commit such uncivilised and abominable acts against the opposition – the Umno leaders will place the blame on the victims instead of the culprits.”

He said what happened at the forum was an indication of the Barisan Nasional’s and Umno’s “desperation” as the general election drew near.

“What other nasty surprises are in store for us? Many are asking whether this incident is a sign that the prime minister may ‘allow’ more such incidents to invoke emergency rule or to declare specific areas as security areas under the new National Security Act, in order to hold on to the power that is slipping from his grasp.” - FMT