‘Let there be no selective prosecution’

G Vinod | September 5, 2012

The Bar Council wants the police to probe all cases of desecrating pictures of public figures, including the burning of pictures of Lim Guan Eng and S Ambiga.

PETALING JAYA: Probe all cases involving desecrating pictures of public figures, including the act of burning pictures of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga, said Bar Council today.

“There should not be selective prosecution,” said its president Lim Chee Wee.

He said this following the arrest of a 19-year-old youth yesterday, who was alleged to have flashed his buttocks at the pictures of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, during last Thursday’s Merdeka celebration at Dataran Merdeka.

The youth was released last night on bail after the police recorded his statement.

During the event, several youths were seen stomping on pictures of Najib and Rosmah. Some were seen carrying the Sang Saka Malaya flag instead of the Malaysian flag.

Two other youngsters – a 19-year-old freelance female model from Johor and 19-year-old male for Kuala Lumpur – surrendered to the police today for allegedly stepping on the said photographs during the gathering.

The model is expected to be brought to the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for questioning while the male turned himself in at the Dang Wangi station this afternoon.

Bukit Aman CID chief Mohd Bakri Zinin said that the police were investigating the mooning incident under the Penal Code, and the flag incident under the Sedition Act.

Lim admitted that the mooning incident could be investigated under Penal Code for public indecency, but voiced reservation on the use of Sedition Act for the flag incident.

He said that it was unfortunate that the police had decided to use the Sedition Act despite the government’s decision to repeal it come the next parliamentary session.

The flag incident, Lim added, would not even constitute as an offence under the law.

“Could changing the lyrics of our national anthem constitute an offence ? What about changing the tune, tempo or beat of the anthem? Where is the line to be drawn?” he asked.