Nothing provocative, unlawful about caricatures, says PAS man

 

DAP vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming had criticised PN for displaying caricatures that appeared to mock Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and transport minister Loke Siew Fook during nominations for the Ayer Kuning by-election today.

TAPAH: 

A PAS leader has defended the caricatures of government leaders which Perikatan Nasional supporters displayed during nominations for the Ayer Kuning by-election this morning, saying that no laws were violated.

PAS deputy election director Annuar Musa also said there was nothing provocative about the caricatures.

“It’s just another way of expressing dissatisfaction with the government. Barisan Nasional (supporters) also have their own methods (of such expressions),” Annuar, a former Umno leader, told reporters here tonight.

“This is part and parcel of democracy and we should allow (the caricatures) to be displayed.”

Annuar reminded DAP that it had used caricatures of government leaders, including former prime minister Najib Razak, when it was in the opposition.

DAP vice-chairman Nga Kor Ming had criticised PN for using the caricatures that appeared to mock Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and transport minister Loke Siew Fook during the nomination process.

Calling it “inappropriate” and “immature”, Nga said the caricatures did nothing to contribute to nation-building, and served instead to divert attention from more pressing national issues.

One poster featured Anwar with a distressed expression, surrounded by labels such as “tax hikes”, “subsidy removal”, “medical insurance cost hike” and “ringgit depreciation” in Malay, English and Chinese.

The other depicted Loke making a “shush” gesture.

The by-election for the Ayer Kuning state seat on April 26 will see a three-cornered fight involving Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional and Parti Sosialis Malaysia.

It was called following the death of Umno assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin on Feb 22. - FMT