Today’s Star “PKR leaders want Zul to explain” carried the following report with regard to the continuing fallout from the storming and disruption of the Bar Council forum on “Conversion to Islam” by demonstrators in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday:
In SEREMBAN, state DAP deputy chief and Senawang assemblyman P. Gunasekaren said he wants the police to charge the demonstrators.
He said the police should have arrested them rather than allow them to enter the Bar Council office, which was private property.
“It is sad that the police allowed them to dictate terms. The demonstrators should be arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act for stoking racial sentiments,” he said.
I have checked with Gunasekaren and he has denied that he had made the remark about the ISA detention attributed to him.
DAP stand for the repeal of the nefarious detention-without-trial Internal Security Act is clear. All ISA detainees should be released immediately or be charged in court to avail them of an opportunity to defend themselves in an open trial.
We disagree with the demonstrators though we respect their right to protest against the Bar Council forum, which must be done peacefully and civilly.
However, what is unacceptable is the mob rule where demonstrators threatened to storm and a few stormed the Bar Council auditorium and disrupted the forum under the protection of the police!
It is sad that for the past five days, not a single word had been said by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar to deplore the uncivil and irresponsible conduct of those who had taken the law into their hands to storm (also those who threatened to storm) and disrupted a lawful meeting in a private premise.
Have the lawless become the law in Abdullah’s Malaysia?
When is the Police and the Attorney-General going to uphold the law and act against the lawless?
———————-
My Facebook supporters page.
#1 by PureMalaysian on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 4:56 pm
I am glad Guna denied that, and hope he didn’t really say that!! Otherwise, another hairline crack in the PR’s trust amongst all of us.
#2 by Mr Smith on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:01 pm
Now the PM has to answer several other questions as well, like the proposal to admit 10% non Malays into Uni Tec. Mara.
What has MCA and MIC got to say?
#3 by badcliq on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:02 pm
Anything that happens in Malaysia now can be “politically motivated”….sad…
It just shows how people abuse & take advantage of everythings…
Politics….one of the hardest game in the world….could make into Olympics next time? heheh :P
#4 by riversandlakes on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:04 pm
What Lah is irrelevant
#5 by PureMalaysian on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:04 pm
@badcliq
“Politics….one of the hardest game in the world….could make into Olympics next time?”
Then Malaysia will be top in the medal list! And also record holder for all events!
#6 by Captain on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:09 pm
I am still waiting for the non malay BN leaders to speak out. This is the time.
SPEAK NOW BEFORE YOU ARE SPOKEN OUT BY THE PEOPLE AS TRAITORS TO YOUR OWN PEOPLE. you cannot remain subservient to UMNO like a donkey treading behind monkey. The UMNO leader who distrupted the forum called attendees ‘pigs’. Thats makes you non malay BN leaders bigger pigs. Is it OK?
the message to malaysian is simple.
VOTE BN OUT.
start with permatang pauh.
#7 by bystander on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:14 pm
we should not celebrate national day. instead we should mark non independence day by wearing black on 31st as proposed by some previously
#8 by llb_gan on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:25 pm
The forum could NOT have come at a less inopportune time.
For goodness sake, let the forum and its ensuing entanglement die a natural death, for now. Hearken to the old adage about the chap who fought and ran away but lived to fight another day.
Playing into the hands of the Evil Empire at this critical time of our crusade would cause Pakatan Rayat irreparable structural damage. For the love of God, give them no reason to use the Religion as a ground to gather and attack us.
Leave Zul alone. Now is not the time.
#9 by achia3 on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:36 pm
I am surprise that the BN government didn’t send out the FRU and the whole nine yards including water canon trucks to protect the public from this protest.
#10 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:38 pm
How do we expect the lawless Umnoputras to deplore the uncivil and irresponsible conduct of the mob who had taken the law into their hands?
#11 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 5:57 pm
When UMNO members commit an offence which is in UMNO’s interest, they will not be prosecuted, e.g. demo by UMNO Malays in Penang when Guan Eng became Penang chief minister, demo in Terengganu when Ahmad Said was selected to be the MB, TDM in Lingam Video Tape scandal etc.
Apparently it is a privilege for UMNO members to commit an offence to enable UMNO achieve the things that it wanted.
#12 by melurian on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 6:09 pm
politicians are always like that, deny deny deny…
remember the infamous bocor when the MPs denied saying it
remember the infamous “johnson clap” in parlimen and deny deny …
just admit lar …. isn’t it proud to confess it like CSL….
#13 by dawsheng on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 6:10 pm
A fall out indeed!
#14 by dawsheng on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 6:18 pm
“I have checked with Gunasekaren and he has denied that he had made the remark about the ISA detention attributed to him.”
Gunasekaren must sue the Star, if not I won’t believe him.
#15 by mauriyaII on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 6:26 pm
Those BN component party leaders who remain SILENT to THE SPITEFUL, UNCOUTH, LOUTISH AND RACIST BEHAVIOUR of the MOB and the THREAT TO STORM THE PREMISES if their demand is not met shows THEY ARE SCARED of the top UMNO leaders who are behind the sinister fiasco that took place at the forum.
Worse still is their continued silence at the call of some in UMNO to use the ISA on the organizers of the forum.
If at all any action is to be taken it should be on the leaders of the mob who had no business to be there inciting the followers to commit sedition and violence.
Action should also be taken on the police officer incharge of the police contigent who had not only failed to disperse the mob but also condoned their behaviour.
Why are the PDRM so partisan when it comes to illegal rallies and gatherings? Some peaceful rallies are brutally dealt with baton charges, tear gas and water cannons while the other violent ones are mollycoddled?
The startling discovery outside the forum was 2 bottles of petrol/kerosene which were meant to be used as incendiary bombs.
Have the police forensic unit lifted finger prints off the bottles? If the members of the mob had been finger-printed, then it would have been eazy to match the prints with the one taken off the bottles.
Such an action would have driven home the point to the mobsters not to trifle with the police. More importantly they would have successfully nabbed the culprit/culprits.
Why didn’t the police do their duty to safeguard people and property? Are they encouraging terrorist activity when such devices had been thrown at the Bar Council President’s previous house?
The police seem to be at their best throwing up roadblocks and investigating alleged sodomy cases while the rakyat is at the mercy of thugs,robbers, snatch thiefs, rapists and murderers.
The IGP and AG should have their priorities right.
The leaders should not abdicate their duties for political expediency.
#16 by Adolf_Napoleon on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 6:37 pm
Dear YB & All
**************************************************
You all have forgotten again and yet again and yet again. This country, from bottom to top, EVERYTHING is about racial based and also the supreme religion of Islam.
Which side you think the police is on ??
**************************************************
Last time was POLIS DI RAJA MALAYSIA, now is POLIS RAJA DI MALAYSIA.
*************************************************
#17 by Old.observer on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 6:43 pm
dawsheng Says:
Today at 18: 18.01 (10 minutes ago)
“I have checked with Gunasekaren and he has denied that he had made the remark about the ISA detention attributed to him.”
Gunasekaren must sue the Star, if not I won’t believe him
___________
Yes, I don’t like it, but I must agree with dawsheng.
#18 by pjboy on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 7:08 pm
YAB Guna must pursue to clear such allegations made by the mainstream media. Otherwise this would be a -ve impact on DAP & P-R. Hope he is doing it while we “speak”…
#19 by tenaciousB on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 7:17 pm
As citizens we have the right to demand that the PM explain the doube standards showed by the police when the malays went on violent verbal protest.
The indians were water cannoned and tear gased, whereas the malays were not even properly restrained from entering the premises where the forum was held. This is an utmost hypocrisy and unfair treatment of malaysians!
And the worst of it all, none of these so called ministers are briefing the public of the seriousness of these issues. Lawless customize as you go government…time to dissolve it and get a new face on board as soon as possible. Sep 16th let it be!
#20 by bystander on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 7:37 pm
Arising from the forum and Uitm, the views expressed are totally opposite with malays versus nonmalays. dont expect the malays to be open minded, rational, generous, liberal, civilsed to admit they were wrong in the protest and willing to accept nonmalays into Uitm. they want all their special malay privileges and ketuanan melayu. in short they want all the cake and eat it at the same time. dont question their rights and might no matter how irrational and uncivilised. pdrm will protect them. how disgusting.
#21 by doremi on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 8:01 pm
Check this out:
Clarification on “ISA statement”
I received a call from MP for PJ Utara Sdr Tony Pua last night informing me that there are a lot of attacks on the DAP by many bloggers over the “statement” by DAP NS Deputy Chairman, Sdr P Gunasekaren which was reported by The Star online (reports attached below). The report quoted Sdr Guna as calling on the police to invoke ISA against the demonstrators.
I have immediately called up Sdr Guna to clarify the matter and he denied making the statement and said he was misquoted. Guna and I went to the The Star’s office in Seremban this afternoon and spoke to the reporter who covered the event yesterday. The reporter admitted that he misinterpreted the statement and a correction over the confusion will be reported in The Star tomorrow. In actual fact, a group of DAP NS leaders went to lodge a police report yesterday over the threat by Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar to use ISA against the forum organizers. The report also called on the police to act against the demonstrators who disrupted the forum.
I would like to reiterate that the DAP’s position on ISA has always been consistent that we call for the total abolishment of the Act. We never agreed to use ISA against anyone, not even to our political opponents or extreme views that we disagreed with such as those who disrupted the Bar Council forum. We believe that there are adequate laws to deal with them. As such, the so-called “statement” by DAP NS Deputy Chairman to call for the use of ISA is inaccurate and was misquoted.
I hope this clarification will clear the confusion over the statement and I hope those who criticized the “statement” will publish my clarifications too.
Thank you.
Loke Siew Fook
DAP NS Chairman
http://lokesiewfook.blogspot.com/2008/08/clarification-on-isa-statement.html
#22 by Mr Smith on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 8:06 pm
Sometimes I wish statements to the press be made ONLY be senior DAP leaders. The other should shun the reporters. Need I tell you why?
#23 by bystander on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 8:28 pm
its getting very polarised. even Star is stoking the fire. the short and long of it is that the malays have the voice and all the rights. nonmalays are second/third class citizens without any voice and any rights. just look at the recent events where nonmalays rights to voice and discuss have been trampled on.
#24 by Malaysian citizen on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 8:35 pm
It is another case of very clear UMNO instigated attack, UMNO can take laws into their own hands, where as other races or parties cannot.
UMNO wanted racial disharmony, UMNO do not want to see all the races join hands as when they do, there is no more role for the UMNO bunch to play.
Please work together to kick them out so that there will be hope for Malaysia, for our children and all Malaysian.
#25 by badak on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 8:38 pm
The Malaysian police had lost the respect of all right thinking Mlaysians.The day they use water cannons on 4 young Indian girls who only wanted to give PAK LAH a rose on velentine,s day…
Is this the police force we need..I was taken aback at what Syed hamid said.
“” He had issued a dirrective that all exhibits must be kept under lock and key. If evidence still goes missing after this , then we will take action againts those responsible”".
Now i know that all police exhibits are just left in the open.Now i also know that the two reported cases is just the tip of the ice berge.
#26 by limkamput on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 8:41 pm
So long as ISA is still the law of the law, I think it is not very wrong to use it. Fed up lah.
Talking about the Star, it is not just a government regulated newspaper, it is a vested interest and crony controlled newspaper.
#27 by melurian on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 9:00 pm
speaking of suing newspaper, remeber CMF whose career destroyed by vernacular paper which reported those who vote oppos will have may13 recurring. CMF denied it (obviously it’s true she din say that) – she only referring election 1969 where all mcas were withdrawn from cabinet. and u ppl still believe cmf did utter may13 repercussion.
same too with lge vs ex malacca cm, after lge in jail the girl confessed that the ex-cm did not do anything to her. whether true or not i donno.
so, whether this dap is true or not, i’ll still presume he indeed utter this remark unless he organized a PC to clarify this. speaking of suing, mp of pju said wanted to sue CMF for defaming his ex-company, until today still no development, ape macam, cakap tak serupa bikin….
so to prove this dap did not mention isa, sue the paper,
#28 by Godfather on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 9:18 pm
melurian the UMNO statistician, what if the paper publishes a correction and an apology ? Don’t say you donno.
#29 by Anak Msia on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 9:34 pm
here rights, there rights !!
we only want human rights.
equal rights, fair rights.
#30 by choonchoy on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 10:10 pm
They should charge the PDRM for allowing the mob to tresspass.
#31 by RKP on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 10:12 pm
No need to kick a fuss over what YB Guna said.
He must haave meant “give them the taste of their own medicine, the stricter dose of the ISA”
#32 by Michael Ng on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 10:15 pm
I am glad to read that YB Guna has denied making that dreadful statement. He should be more careful when speaking to reporters from the MSM. Being a first term state rep, he has much to learn in how to handle these chaps from MSM. They can destroy his career if he’s not careful. I agree with Mr. Smith that all press statements should be made by senior DAP leaders.
BTW, YB Guna is the rep for my area (Seremban Gdn/Seremban Forest Hts) and I have yet to see him visit my area (on a Sunday) at least.
#33 by izrafeil on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 10:21 pm
tarik lesen publication dia
setidak2nya gantung 1 minggu
#34 by antiracist on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 10:24 pm
sekadar untuk YB LKS JA … betul ke atau sekadar cakap tapi tidak bertanggungjawab. Kalau nak guna ISA untuk Islam OK tapi kalau untuk HINDRAF atau DAP zalim. Apa kebendanya ni …
#35 by kopi kau kau on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 10:26 pm
Yb,
Pak Lah did vouch for a democratic country where we could exercise our democratic right within the confine of the law in our Country.
Well the Bar Council like a fool falls into his trap and organize a so called forum and testing the nerves of the Muslim…..
Our Royal Police is the real culprit to the whole forum…. Why do they allow the protesters to enter the premises??? I am really surprised that they cannot control the crowd??? Where is the special elite force that ‘capture’ Anwar?? (missing in action..???)
I could imagine how the crowd would behave if they sight the special elite force…. they all would run away because they do not like to be treated like Anwar!!!
Another problem is the lawyers themselves….. Who do they think they are ???? Please do not use the Bar Council to voice your opinions… If you are really interested in the democratic process… please join PKR, DAP. or PAS and overthrow the BN democratically via election…
Don’t be a busy-body… you are better off doing your advocate $$ Solicitor works … let the politicans handle this situation… they are more shrewd and cunning as far as politic is concerned… Better licks the boots of your Bosses…
We are suppose to heal the wound of 308…. until now all of you is still talking politic.. politic.. politic …. What a shame …
#36 by daryl on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 10:28 pm
I am suprise that they didn’t send in the 20 FRU that was at the BMC. These 20 FRU could have strike fear in the demostrator because they can beat someone up with the lillest of provocation.
Where is the PDRM especially the 20 from BMC when we need them. Only in Boleh-land.
#37 by Captain on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 10:48 pm
Yes, bystander, It was me who proposed that all Pakatan supporters and supporters of the Bar Coucil Forum that was illegally distrupted should gather at another part of the city in the morning of merdeka ….everybody wearing black … to siginify there’ no merdeka’.
It would be good if we can cast black cloud over the Government’s false merdeka celebrations..
the problem today is, the police is the durian and the people are the watermelon …
#38 by badak on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 11:07 pm
The catholic,s in house news paper THE HERALD has been given a show cause letter by the home minister.
The only reason i can see is, because once the the HERALD is ban. The court case which the CATHOLIC CHURCH had taken against the HOME MINISTER,will be null and void.
By doing this, the UMNO led BN GOVERNMENT can save face.Even in the Jewish HOLY BOOK “” THE WORD ALLAH IS USED IN REFERENCE TO GOD”"
#39 by Cookie Monster on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 11:27 pm
should be more tactful & more sensitive when making statements in future.
p/s: pakatan rakyat should start campaigning in east malaysia in preparation for the next ge …..east malaysia is already way behind its counterpart west malaysia by 20-25yrs in terms of development……pakatan , teach the bn of east malaysia a lesson……….
#40 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 11:33 pm
Sorry I don’t think it is big thing (all these fuss by some bloggers) whether DAP’s P Gunasekaren said that the demonstrators should be arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act for stoking racial sentiments.
Well anyway fine if the reporter misunderstood, and admitted it but even otherwise so what?
There are so many calls by those who would side the unruly demonstrators for Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan to be detained under ISA. So what if by way of retort P Gunasekaren said that the unruly demonstrators should be the ones arrested and put under ISA instead? I don’t take that as meaning P Gunasekaren deliberately wanted to contradict DAP’s stand against the ISA in favour of its repeal.
,
#41 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 11:52 pm
The critical issue is that which was reported in NST today, which I here quote :
“Pas has warned that it would not be part of any new Federal Government formed by Pakatan Rakyat if the number of non-Muslim members of parliament outnumbered that of Muslim MPs.
The matter was brought up by Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang at the Penang Pas convention here on Sunday.
State Pas Youth chief Mohd Hafiz Mohamed Nordin said Abdul Hadi received full support from the delegates when he announced the party’s stand. He said the state Pas Youth supported Abdul Hadi’s stand. “It is our hope that Pakatan Rakyat will continue to protect the interests of Muslims as is enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
“We hope this will be so if the Pakatan Rakyat goes on to form the Federal Government after Sept 16.” (Unquote)
See link : http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/National/2319826/Article/index_html
How come no bloggers & no leaders of DAP or PKR question NST whether this report is true?
What PAS warned – which I’m sure its true since no one contradicts it – is a decisive blow to the Pakatan Rakyat union, a flagrant breach of the agreed principles of the common manifesto validating everything that Lee Wang Yen and I had argued before in previous threads (before 8th March) that PAS had not only not abandoned its theocratic ambitions but using taqiyya on the Pakatan Rakyat to achieve its objectives faster, and if PR did not go along with it, then, with the no. of seats won from non mulsim votes, explore combining with UMNO under the cover of Malay Unity talks.
YB,
DAP’s P Gunasekaren’s alleged contradiction of DAP’s principles on ISA is but a small thing but DAP’s contradiction of its own principles in continuing to collaborate with PAS when they said a thing like that as reported in NST and not rebutting what Hadi said goes against the core of its principles and cannot be defended or explained at all (except in terms only of political expedience in pretending all is well just to go along so as not to upset PR’s unity for Permatang Puah!)
#42 by ahluck on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 - 11:55 pm
Public will vote for Anwar to be PM. King will choose PAS Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang. If this be the case why vote? This Happened in Terenganu it will happen again.
#43 by smeagroo on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 12:42 am
demonstration is only legal for umno goons. Rememebr the famous SIL storming the US embassy? Well who can forget that rite? The ape like character.
Oh where are the F (r) U?
Fly WAU la!
#44 by dawsheng on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 1:03 am
Well, at least everyone agreed that the federal constitution should stay as it is. I have no problems with protecting the special rights of the Malays, but I certainly hope that Malays are not confused about the meaning of corruption.
#45 by AhPek on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 1:05 am
“DAP’s P.Gunasekaren’s alleged contradiction of DAP’s principles on ISA is but a small thing but DAP’s contradiction of its own principles in continuing to collaborate with PAS when they said a thing like that as reported in NST and not rebutting what Hadi said go es against the core of its principles and cannot be defended or explained at all (except in terms only of political expedience in pretending all is well just to go along so as not to upset PR’s unity for Permatang Puah!). Jeffrey addressing YB on PAS position according to NST report.
You are absolutely right Jeffrey and DAP’s silence would certainly be taken as compliance and therefore would go smack on against its own principles as well as those agreed in the common manifesto that brought them in the first place
to fight BN.
What Lee Wang Yen says about taqiyya is now about to go on full display if it is not already on,and to think that some of us here have ridiculed him is a case not unlike that of Galileo,only difference is Galileo has to pay with his life for uttering the truth.
#46 by dawsheng on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 1:08 am
There is no point Malays unite to protect Islam but at the same time, in order to protect Islam, they are perpetuating corruption practices among muslims, especially those in UMNO, not only Islam will be tainted, Malays will suffer as hell.
#47 by dawsheng on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 1:13 am
All the best to PAS!
#48 by gofortruth on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 1:21 am
All fair mided people can’t help but see clearly that the Police & AG are in fact serving the interests of UMNO instead of the people of Malaysia. Likewise the EC and the ACA. Sigh!
#49 by m.hwang on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 1:38 am
Two wrongs do not make a right. Either you’re against or for ISA. I think Gunasekaran realised it when it’s too late. It is downright foolish to call for ISA to be abolished and then turn around and call for ISA detentions.
#50 by onGOHing on Thursday, 14 August 2008 - 6:21 am
ISA is violence against human beings. Our YB Sdr Lim was its victim twice over. Under no circumstances should PR political philosophy ever embrace ISA. “Bodily and verbal violence is not virtuous conduct by any religious measure. It is only too easy for me to react to the anger demonstrated last weekend with anger of my own. But anger begets anger.” When you have finished reading all the comments here, you are welcome to read Slow to Anger at http://ongohing.wordpress.com/