By Othman Wahab | February 29, 2012 The Malaysian Insider
FEB 29 — What would you do if a group of individuals constantly threatened you, used thuggish language and behaviour to intimidate you and your family, friends and neighbours?
How would you react if your legitimate right to express your opinion or gather as a peaceful assembly to express an opinion on a matter close to your heart, is challenged by gangsters and politicians behaving in such manner?
What would you say if your brother or sister attending a political gathering was assaulted by thugs who are acting with the support of the government?
Would it be acceptable to you if your elected representatives are being threatened with bodily harm, abused with racist epithets and prevented from speaking to Felda settlers by thugs? Is it alright that journalists or social activists are being threatened by these gangsters and that the police watch like uninterested spectators?
What do we make of police inaction after 10 men were arrested for putting up posters defaming Ambiga Sreenivasan and A. Samad Said of Bersih?
I believe that these are questions we need to answer, because in recent weeks, Mohamed Sabu, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Lim Guan Eng, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and other Opposition members have been threatened by Perkasa and Umno Youth members. Two Chinese newspaper journalists were assaulted.
Mind you, we are not talking about “kongsi gelap” (triads) but state-sponsored intimidation and violence.
One last question: Would you stand idly and give in to this gangsterism by Umno/Perkasa?