Chinese-based political parties continued to lodge police reports against Umno leader Ahmad Ismail for allegedly making racist remarks that contravene the country’s tough sedition laws - drawn to maintain harmonious relations among ethnic groups.
Ahmad, the relatively unknown division chief of Umno Bukit Bendera division, burst into the limelight last week for allegedly describing the Chinese here as immigrants squatting in Malaysia and as such, said they should not expect to be treated equally.
Ahmad purportedly made the comments while campaigning for Barisan Nasional during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election, in which opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim eventually won.
During a ceramah, Ahmad also questioned the Chinese’s willingness to share and distribute their wealth equally with the other races.
“This is an abuse of the freedom of speech,” Ng Wei Aik, political secretary to DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng, told reporters.
“The police should show that they are independent by taking strong action on a local Umno leader, not just on political opponents to Barisan Nasional and Umno,” Ng added.
Ng earlier led a four-man team comprising members from the DAP socialist youth wing (Dapsy) to the Jalan Patani police station in Penang, urging the police to take stern action against Ahmad for remarks made during a Barisan rally in Kampung Belah Dua on Aug 25.
The Dapsy team called on the police to use the Seditious Act 1948 to charge Ahmad. They were also considering a legal suit against Ahmad - who was once a close aide of Anwar.
“One shall not cause injuries to other communities with racists remarks,” Ng said.
No apology yet
The latest complaint is part of a Dapsy move to mount a nationwide police report campaign against Ahmad, who has yet to apologise or offer an explanation despite the escalating public outcry against him.
Dapsy leaders have so far lodged reports in Perak, Selangor, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan.
BN component parties, the MCA and Gerakan, have also complained to the police about Ahmad.
MCA Bukit Bendera division chief Quah Eng Lam and vice-chairperson Tan Khai Beng have insisted that Ahmad be sacked from his Umno party, while Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon called on the Barisan to issue a code of ethics on ‘how and what to talk in public’.
Gerakan vice-president Dr Teng Hock Nan also criticised Ahmad of being “recalcitrant, arrogant and insensitive.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister and Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last week said he would order Ahmad not to repeat his comments in the future.
But his assurance failed to pacify the Chinese groups, and the serial police reports against Ahmad will only heighten pressure on the premier.
news n photo courtesy of Malaysiakini
To build public confidence, UMNOputras who had incited hatred to non-malays need to be punished according to the Sedition Act immediately by the government. Will this BN government do it? No one is above the law.
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