Can’t hold a candle to cop’s excuse
One can’t hold a candle to the Shah Alam police excuse for inaction in fear of sparking further anger at the cow-head protest yesterday.
It begs the question if the dozens of riot police in full gear were cowed by the actions of 50 protesters armed with banners and a cow’s head.
And smacks of double standards.
Dozens of people have been hauled away for less provocative stunts, like wearing black or holding lit candles at night.
The only thing these cow-head protesters had in common with the others was to assemble without a permit.
Of course, a democracy can tolerate if not encourage public assemblies and protests but not anything that is provocative or insults another person’s faith.
Isn’t there mutual respect anymore? And is it not the duty of the police to keep the peace by preventing stunts that can inflame racial passions?
Opposition politicians have long condemned the Royal Malaysian Police for not arresting the rising crime rate but instead focusing on political activity against the ruling Barisan Nasional government.
It’s now plain to see that they may be right after all. The police have to act without fear or favour, for they carry the royal warrant. All the more so when the police top brass were breaking fast with the King yesterday, hours after the protest.
The proffered excuse of not acting because of the “volatile nature’ of the protest is pathetic and a slur on a force that has served the nation for some 200 years. And shows up the police as a farce, to borrow the words of Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
Are we a nation that quickly detains those who wear black or hold candles but take our time for those who insult religions!
MI
30/08/09
One can’t hold a candle to the Shah Alam police excuse for inaction in fear of sparking further anger at the cow-head protest yesterday.
It begs the question if the dozens of riot police in full gear were cowed by the actions of 50 protesters armed with banners and a cow’s head.
And smacks of double standards.
Dozens of people have been hauled away for less provocative stunts, like wearing black or holding lit candles at night.
The only thing these cow-head protesters had in common with the others was to assemble without a permit.
Of course, a democracy can tolerate if not encourage public assemblies and protests but not anything that is provocative or insults another person’s faith.
Isn’t there mutual respect anymore? And is it not the duty of the police to keep the peace by preventing stunts that can inflame racial passions?
Opposition politicians have long condemned the Royal Malaysian Police for not arresting the rising crime rate but instead focusing on political activity against the ruling Barisan Nasional government.
It’s now plain to see that they may be right after all. The police have to act without fear or favour, for they carry the royal warrant. All the more so when the police top brass were breaking fast with the King yesterday, hours after the protest.
The proffered excuse of not acting because of the “volatile nature’ of the protest is pathetic and a slur on a force that has served the nation for some 200 years. And shows up the police as a farce, to borrow the words of Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
Are we a nation that quickly detains those who wear black or hold candles but take our time for those who insult religions!
MI
30/08/09
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