SHAH ALAM, Sept 9 – Six men were charged under the Sedition Act this morning for being part of the cow head protest against the construction of a Hindu temple, in a case that has taken on wider political ramifications and provoked debate about the state of race relations in Malaysia.
They were also charged with another six men for taking part in an illegal assembly.
Officials said five of the six men charged for sedition were residents of the Section 23 neighbourhood. Of the six others facing illegal assembly charges, only one of them is a Section 23 resident.
On Aug 28, more than 50 people claiming to be residents of Section 23 here marched from the state mosque to the state secretariat to protest the relocation of a 150-year old temple to their neighbourhood.
They threatened bloodshed, and kicked and spat at a cow’s head, drawing widespread public condemnation because the animal is considered sacred by Hindus.
Federal leaders had initially sought to play down the issue, with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein even meeting the protestors and speaking up for them.
Many of the residents who opposed the temple could come up with little justification for their opposition, except to say that it offended their Muslim sensitivities.
But the situation came to a head when a group of Malay-Muslim men disrupted a town hall meeting with residents organised by the state government.
The pandemonium that erupted at the town hall meeting saw heated arguments between Malay and Indian neighbours.
This week the government bowed to pressure and decided to prosecute some of the protestors.
The six charged for sedition this morning pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at RM4,000 each.
They will next appear in court on Oct 21 for their cases to be mentioned.
Among the six are Mohd Azmir Mohd Zin, 35, Ahmad Suhairi Zakaria, 30, Mohd Hilmi Ni, 40, all three whom were alleged to have carrying the cow’s head and stepping on it.
Eyzra Ezhar Ramlz, 31, is alleged to have helped bring the cow’s head.
Ibrahim Sabri, 42, and Ahmad Mahayuddhn Abd Manaf, 36, are alleged to have stepped on the cow’s head.
These six men were later charged together with six other men for participating in an illegal assembly.
All 12 men claimed trial, and bail was set at RM300 each for those were also facing sedition charges, and RM500 each for those only answering illegal assembly charges.
The six who were only charged for illegal assembly are Mohd Jurit Ramli, 39, Mohammad Nordin Zakaria, 46, Rahimuddin Md Harun, 39, Jamil Mohamad Isa, 40 Azari Shaari, 39, and Jainuddin @ Zainuddin Md Yusuff, 67.
MI
09/09/09
They were also charged with another six men for taking part in an illegal assembly.
Officials said five of the six men charged for sedition were residents of the Section 23 neighbourhood. Of the six others facing illegal assembly charges, only one of them is a Section 23 resident.
On Aug 28, more than 50 people claiming to be residents of Section 23 here marched from the state mosque to the state secretariat to protest the relocation of a 150-year old temple to their neighbourhood.
They threatened bloodshed, and kicked and spat at a cow’s head, drawing widespread public condemnation because the animal is considered sacred by Hindus.
Federal leaders had initially sought to play down the issue, with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein even meeting the protestors and speaking up for them.
Many of the residents who opposed the temple could come up with little justification for their opposition, except to say that it offended their Muslim sensitivities.
But the situation came to a head when a group of Malay-Muslim men disrupted a town hall meeting with residents organised by the state government.
The pandemonium that erupted at the town hall meeting saw heated arguments between Malay and Indian neighbours.
This week the government bowed to pressure and decided to prosecute some of the protestors.
The six charged for sedition this morning pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at RM4,000 each.
They will next appear in court on Oct 21 for their cases to be mentioned.
Among the six are Mohd Azmir Mohd Zin, 35, Ahmad Suhairi Zakaria, 30, Mohd Hilmi Ni, 40, all three whom were alleged to have carrying the cow’s head and stepping on it.
Eyzra Ezhar Ramlz, 31, is alleged to have helped bring the cow’s head.
Ibrahim Sabri, 42, and Ahmad Mahayuddhn Abd Manaf, 36, are alleged to have stepped on the cow’s head.
These six men were later charged together with six other men for participating in an illegal assembly.
All 12 men claimed trial, and bail was set at RM300 each for those were also facing sedition charges, and RM500 each for those only answering illegal assembly charges.
The six who were only charged for illegal assembly are Mohd Jurit Ramli, 39, Mohammad Nordin Zakaria, 46, Rahimuddin Md Harun, 39, Jamil Mohamad Isa, 40 Azari Shaari, 39, and Jainuddin @ Zainuddin Md Yusuff, 67.
MI
09/09/09
Both my parents are Indian and Hindu; and I am an evolutionist.
ReplyDeleteIn September 2009, some people in Malaysia paraded a cow's head. The media has the right to highlight it. What is news? When a dog bites a man, it is not news worthy. But when a man bites a dog, it is news worthy. The media makes news judgement. The media must be given freedom to decide what is news worthy or not. Please leave the media alone.
Some people decided to carry a cow's head. So what? They can carry a cow's head if they want. Nobody should be offended by it. The best thing to do is to play down on it and ignore it. The main thrust for Hindus should and must be in giving a good education to their children. The world will become more competitive. It is the duty of all Hindus in Malaysia to take care of their own families. Please do take care of your own family. If you can, please do work at two jobs so that you can get extra money.
Parading a severed cow's head should not perturb you. If it does perturb you, then you have only yourself to blame. Those people parading a cow's head look like comedians any way. Why are you perturbed by comedians? They say that laughter is the best medicine. It is good to have some comedy.
Some people carry a handbag, some people carry a shopping bag, some people carry a mango, and some people carry an umbrella. Different people carry different things. Similarly, people do have the right to carry and parade a severed cow's head, or for that matter, chicken wings, pig's ears, goat's feet, turtle shell, cat's tail, etc.
If the intention of the Muslim protesters is to encourage beef consumption, then I can assure you that more Hindus in Malaysia do consume beef and pork nowadays. If the Muslim protesters regularly parade a severed cow's head, it may encourage beef consumption, which is a good thing. I hope the Muslim protesters promote beef consumption by parading a severed cow's head regularly. Cattle farmers will be supportive of the idea of increasing beef consumption. If fact, you can even persuade the cattle farmers to pay the Muslim protesters.
Incidentally, there are many Hindus in Malaysia who eat pork and beef. After you see a cow's head being paraded several times, then you would get used to it and it would no longer perturb you any more. The human mind has the capacity to de-sensitize. It may help to increase beef consumption. Wait a minute. Beef has high cholesterol but not as high as crustaceans.
Incidentally, there are many Hindus in Malaysia who eat pork and beef. After you see a cow's head being paraded several times, then you would get used to it and it would no longer perturb you any more. The human mind has the capacity to de-sensitize. It may help to increase beef consumption. Wait a minute. Beef has high cholesterol but not as high as crustaceans.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, many Muslims consume pork too. Again, after eating pork for some time, you would get used to it. If you are non-Muslim, please do treat your Muslim friend to some pork food. Pork consumption may be irresistible to Muslims especially if non-Muslims pay for it.
Why are Muslims perturbed when a Hindu temple relocates to a Muslim majority area? Muslims do not have to enter the Hindu temple if they do not want to. There is no way the Hindu temple would perturb Muslims. I think the matter should be referred to the Judicial System. Muslims should stop over-reacting. The Muslims look like comedians when they overreact and carry a severed cow's head, parade it, and stomp it. What's the matter with the Muslims? I am a beef and pork eater and I would be glad to stomp a severed cow's head only if I am paid well enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_lBBx4UnoE
The human mind has the capacity to de-sensitize. There are people who make a living as butchers and people who do autopsies. We need butchers and autopsies. Hindus must come of age and accept butchers and autopsies, and all the other jobs as important to a socio-economic system. It is good that more Hindus are eating pork and beef these days. It is the duty of Hindu groups to prepare the Hindu youth for the 21st century. We have to detach food from divinity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R7eqMug-wo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udi8IpP3Uy8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVuIeK5_YuQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yZdBrwjFa8
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A Hindu temple, Sri Maha Mariamman temple from Section 19 needs to be relocated to Section 23. But the Muslim residents of Section 23 object to the relocation plan. So some Muslims carried a severed cow's head and made a protest march. It is the right of people to carry a severed cow's head. But objecting to the relocation of a Hindu temple to Section 23 is unreasonable. The presence of a Hindu temple in a Muslim majority area will in no way interfere in the daily lives of Muslims. May cool heads prevail. I hope we can find a solution.
Please vote against UMNO in all future elections. It is time for Malaysian voters to come of age and vote UMNO out of power.