Is Zahid seriously suggesting that it is perfectly lawful and permissible to organise public demonstrations to offer RM1,200 to anyone to slap the PM, DPM or Home Minister?

Overnight, Malaysians are asking whether the law of the jungle have replaced the rule of law in the country on our way to a fully developed nation status in six years’ time in 2020.

This follows the shocking statement by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who dismissed calls to investigate the organisers of Thursday’s chicken slaughter protest against DAP MP Teresa Kok, and who dismissed the RM1,200 reward offered by the self-styled “Council of Islamic NGOs” who slaps Teresa saying “there is nothing to investigate as it is not a threat”.

He said: “Why do we need to investigate that?

“Slapping is not a threat. If they say murder, then it is a threat.”

Is Zahid seriously suggesting that it is perfectly lawful and permissible to organise public demonstrations to offer RM1,200 to anyone to slap the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister or the Home Minister?

Is the Home Minister advocating the law of the jungle instead of the rule of law? Then we are not heading towards a fully developed nation in 2020 but down the abyss to a failed state by the end of the decade!

Zahid’s dismissal of the country-wide police reports by DAP/PR MPs and State Assembly members against the 30-odd people in the “Council of Islamic NGOs” demonstration committing offences of criminal intimidation, sedition, incitement of violence against a woman MP and incitement of another May 13 riots, is the height of irresponsibility for a Home Minister and raises the question whether the Home Minister is committed to upholding the rule of law, peace and harmony in the country.

I want to ask Zahid whether his comments amount to a directive to the police not to investigate the police reports which have been launched countrywide by DAP and Pakatan Rakyat MPs, State Assembly members and leaders against the self-styled “Council of Islamic NGOs” for a battery of criminal offences, including criminal intimidation, sedition, incitement of violence against a woman MP and incitement for another May 13 riots?

Is Zahid also telling the Police that they should not investigate the Council of Islamic NGOs for breaches of the Peaceful Assembly Act in not giving the police 10 days notice for the assembly?

At Thursday’s chicken-slaughtering and blood-curdling demonstration, a spokesman of the Council of Islamic NGOs even raised the spectre of May 13 riots, saying that the blood of the slaughtered chicken was symbolic of the May 13 riots.

He even demanded that the government expel Chinese and Indian citizens who were not fluent in Malay from the country?

There are also Malays who are not fluent in Malay. Are they also to be expelled from the country?

If Zahid thinks that the above extremist and ultra statements and demands are perfectly legitimate and acceptable, then he is not fit to be Home Minister for all Malaysians.

I want to ask the new MCA leadership led by Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong whether they agree with Zahid that there is nothing wrong and therefore nothing to investigate with regard to the shocking and outrageous incidents of the the offer of RM1,200 to slap Teresa and the slaughter of chickens and smearing of the chicken blood on banner featuring DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

If not, are they prepared to take a principled stand including requisitioning of an emergency meeting of the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council as the very basis of a rule of law and a legitimate democracy have been brought into question by Zahid’s heretical statements, which completely repudiates the rule of law in Malaysia.

Lim Kit Siang DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Gelang Patah