Pakatan: Arrests of Nik Aziz, Guan Eng picture-stompers ‘insincere’

By Lisa J Ariffin

September 17, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders today dismissed the arrests of several individuals who stomped and urinated on the photographs of their leaders as a mere knee-jerk response from the authorities, following harsh criticism from the public over their handling of similar incidents during National Day last month.

PKR vice-president N Surendran (picture) pointed out that the arrests had only been made after the Home Ministry and the police were slammed for the speedy action they had taken against the group of youths who stomped on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s photograph during a street celebration of Malaysia’s 55th National Day at Dataran Merdeka.

“The only reason (Home Minister Datuk Seri) Hishammuddin (Hussein) has gone after those who did that to opposition leaders is because of public criticism on the one sided way the police have gone after those who did the same to the PM’s photos,” Surendran told The Malaysian Insider.

DAP national publicity chief Tony Pua echoed his colleague’s sentiments, and said: “The urinating act was more than a few months ago. Have they been charged?”

“Or are these ‘arrests’ afterthoughts after Malaysians complain at the police bias of investigating only when Najib’s picture is ‘damaged’?” he asked.

“If Hishammuddin is truly unbiased, then scores of people would have been charged and found guilty to date for Umno and Perkasa members have trampled, torn, burnt and desecrated on pictures of PR leaders since 2008,” he added.

PAS leader and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad lamented if the police had taken action against the perpetrators “from the beginning”, it would have “stopped all these crazy political gangsterism and activities which are not condoned by anybody with a reasonable and sound mind”.

“They (the police) have to wait until the PM’s photos are stepped on, and they’re criticised for not taking action, then only they acted... It is a bit disappointing,” he said.

“It shows they have double standards and are not serious in overcoming the problem of gangsterism and unethical political action,” he added.

Surendran, however, urged that no criminal action be taken upon those arrested.

“We believe leaders must be open to criticism by the people and even if the criticisms are rude and distasteful as in the case of the fellow who urinated on photographs of PR leaders,” he said.

He added the coalition was against criminal action taken against those involved as it was “wrong, because under the federal constitution there is freedom of expression”.

“As long as it’s non-violent, don’t turn it into a criminal matter. Like those who jumped on the PM’s photos, it is distasteful but not criminal.

“It may be rude, distasteful and disgusting but we must defend the people’s right to do it. They are both not criminal matters.”

A firestorm erupted last month after several individuals were recorded tearing up posters bearing images of the prime minister, his wife and Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof at the “Janji Demokrasi” rally on August 30.

Several other people also were spotted waving a flag with an alternative design — now identified as the Sang Saka Malaya – instead of the Jalur Gemilang at the National Day bash.

Bukit Aman’s CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin told The Malaysian Insider that the police were probing the two separate incidents under the Sedition Act — despite Putrajaya’s decision to repeal the controversial law that has been widely panned as a tool to curb political dissent.

Mohd Bakri said the police were probing the flag incident as an attempt to incite hatred with intent to create public disorder under Section 4 (1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948.

He added that stepping on pictures of Najib and wife were considered offences under Sections 290 and 504 of the Penal Code for being public nuisances and intentionally causing insult with an intent to provoke break the public peace, respectively.

Those convicted under Section 290 may be fined up to RM400 while those found guilty under Section 504 are liable to be jailed up to two years or fined, or both.

However, Section 4 (1)(a) of the Sedition Act prescribes a mandatory jail term of three years or a fine of up to RM5,000 for first offenders, which is subsequently raised to five years’ jail for repeat offences.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/pakatan-arrests-of-nik-aziz-guan-eng-picture-stompers-insincere/

Ambiga: Growth of civil society not to blame for teen pranks

By Clara Chooi
Assistant News Editor

September 11, 2012

Bersih co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 —  The growth of civil society activism following Bersih 2.0's annual rallies may have inspired copycat gatherings nationwide but its co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenavasan has disagreed that this could have spurred civil disobedience among the country's youths.

The prominent former Bar Council president and civil society activist told The Malaysian Insider that gatherings like the Merdeka eve "Janji Demokrasi" should not be blamed for the controversial picture-stomping incident involving a group of teenagers.

"We have been having more such gatherings around... not just Bersih... like the green movement, and so on. It is common and there is no wrong in it.

"And for me, it is really how these things are handled by the authorities on the ground, and of course, the organisers," she said.

Ambiga, who is a co-chairman of the 82-member Bersih 2.0 election watchdog, noted that added frequency of more such public gatherings should be expected as a natural precursor to any fully functioning democracy in the world.

They should not be misconstrued as a deliberate plan to create a "mob culture" in society , she said.

"To be honest, the police are getting better and better and things are becoming pleasant.

"If things are handled well, there will be no problem. A lot of these (problems) arise from the behaviour of the police and the organisers of such events," she added.

But although "Janji Demokrasi" had been organised by a number of Bersih 2.0's member groups, Ambiga insisted that the event itself had not condoned the teenagers' offensive behaviours.

During the gathering, a group of youths believed to be participants, were seen stomping on and mooning over the photographs of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his wife and Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.

Ambiga said the youths' actions was never encouraged, pointing out that the other "Janji Demokrasi" participants had behaved in "exemplary" fashion, setting an "excellent example for these children".

"I do not see any relationship between the two incidents. The Janji Demokrasi gathering... they were so well-behaved," she said.

According to Bernama Online yesterday, a total of 427 police reports have since been lodged on the incident, which had immediately kicked off a firestorm of protests from government leaders.

The police have also formed three special teams to investigate the matter under the Sedition Act, the Peaceful Assembly Act and the Penal Code, apart from detaining several teenagers who had come forward to admit that they were part of the group destroying the photographs.

One 19-year-old student who admitted to mooning over the pictures have also been expelled from college for showing disrespect to a national leader.

Joining many other civil society activists and opposition leaders, Ambiga spoke out in defence of the youths, and slammed the authorities for meting such harsh punishment upon those who have been detained.

She said photographs in the media showing how at least two youths, including the 19-year-old boy and a female teenager, were handcuffed for such minor acts of disrespect had "shocked and disgusted her".

"When I read how they were handcuffed, pictures in the press and their poor parents put in a position to apologise... my own view is that this is pure intimidation against these two youths, who at best, you can say they were just involved in a prank.

"I do not condone it but they are young... it is shocking, really, and very frankly, I was disgusted with how they were treated," she said.

The prominent lawyer added that the actions of the youths were in no way seditious in nature as at such a young age, they were merely following in the footsteps of the adult politicians who have oftentimes been seen performing the same offensive acts but were allowed to go unpunished.

"So my view here is that the government, the authorities are using a nuclear weapon to kill a fly.

"You do not deal with youths in this manner - they have their whole lives ahead of them but in just one event, you have greatly traumatised them and stolen away their futures," she said.

Ambiga suggested that a mere verbal reprimand should have been enough to set the teenagers back on the right path, if at all the government wanted to punish them for their actions.

Otherwise, she said the incident should have merely been ignored as the public uproar over the youths' actions over the Internet should have helped teach them a lesson.

Many opposition politicians have railed against the authorities for acting so speedily to reprimand the youths for the incident when they had failed to do the same against pro-Umno, pro-BN and Perkasa activists who had in the past committed the same offences.

The Malay right wing group Perkasa had in May this year organised a mock funeral for Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

The group's leaders, as well as other pro-Umno activists have also held numerous protests where the photographs of prominent Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and Ambiga herself.

The Bersih 2.0 leader had also found herself the target of such attacks following the group's last rally in the city earlier this year.

Shortly after the event, a group of traders erected a burger stall outside her home, deliberately handing out beef burgers in a direct insult to Ambiga, who is not only vegetarian but also a Hindu.

Apart from that, a group of army veterans had also performed butt exercises outside her home.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/ambiga-growth-of-civil-society-not-to-blame-for-teen-pranks/

Malaysian police - for the rakyat or for Umno?

Charles Santiago 11:57AM Sep 10, 2012

I am sick and tired of the double standards. No, I do not condone anyone baring their bottom or stepping on the photos of Prime Minister Najib Razak. But it's disgusting when the police are quick to act if incidences such as these are seen to insult ruling politicians.
They even go a step further by handcuffing a 19-year-old girl who turned herself in at the police station. There was absolutely no need to do so as she was not resisting arrest.
But when opposition politicians and others deemed linked to the opposition leaders are disparaged, the police turn a blind eye.
The decision by the people to turn up at Dataran Merdeka to hold the government to its promises of electoral reforms started the ball rolling.
Some government leaders accused the opposition of orchestrating the event.
The government was unhappy to say the least and decided not to hold the yearly countdown event to usher in Merdeka.
And the police were more than happy to go to the carpet and outlandishly mobilise a team to nab anyone they deemed had acted in an inappropriate manner.
Two youths who displayed the Sang Saka Malaya flag were also detained. They have clearly denied their act was to call for a replacement of the national flag.
But this was construed as a covert attempt by,who else but the opposition, to change the Jalur Gemilang and the police are still hunting down others. So far 11 young people have surrendered.
But what is jarring is the complacency adopted by the force when it comes to investigating matters concerning opposition leaders and members of the civil society.
Firstly, high-ranking police officers would ramble incoherent statements to try and protect the ruling elite.
Then they would throw their "intellectual" weight behind the perpetrators by making excuses for them. And lastly the perpetrators would go free.
We have seen this happening repeatedly in the country.
The police did not act with the same fervor when DAP sec-gen Lim Guan Eng's posters were burnt, a mock funeral was held in front of his home and cakes, in the form of faeces, were delivered to him.
Bersih chairperson AmbigaSreenevasan's posters were also burnt while PAS spiritual guru Nik Abdul Aziz and PAS president Abdul HadiAwang's photos in a banner were urinated on.

Retired army officers flexed their posterior muscles outside Ambiga's house and traders set-up shops as a sign of protest against the rally calling for free and fair elections in July.
In a response, the police said the musclemen and burger flippers were in a public space.
And another case, among the many others, is the cow head demonstration in August 2009 which was brought about by the opposition-led Selangor government's decision to relocate a Hindu temple to a Muslim majority area.
Cows are considered sacred by Hindus.
The protesters stomped and spat on the cow head and said there would be blood if the temple relocation goes through. This was recorded on video.
But although the protest threatened the racial fabric of the society, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein defended the protesters, saying they just wanted their voices to be heard.
Enough said.
Once again, the police have proven that they are the bully-boys who would not hesitate to act on the instruction of their Umno bosses. And in the process, they have only disgraced themselves even further.

---

CHARLES SANTIAGO is Member of Parliament for Klang.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/208446

DAP: Punishing teens will torch BN’s non-Malay support

By Clara Chooi
Assistant News Editor

September 08, 2012

Teenager Ong Sing Yee reacts after offering her apology for stepping on the pictures, during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur September 6, 2012.—Picture by Saw Siow Feng

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 ― Lim Guan Eng today suggested that Barisan Nasional’s (BN) harsh treatment of those responsible for last week’s Merdeka Day misadventures despite a failure to address similar transgressions by hardliners in Umno and Perkasa will alienate its non-Malay support.

The DAP secretary-general said the action will also serve to highlight the government’s apparent bias after having ignored unruly behaviour displayed previously by to Malay right wingers.

Lim pointed out that unlike the political leaders, the youths who mooned over or trampled on photographs of the country’s leaders and raised a pre-independence flag during last week’s Merdeka Day celebrations had not committed the acts with malicious intent.

“But this Perkasa... they are extremists. These youths, they just want to have fun, they do not know what they are doing.

“But others, they have done this three, four times. Not only stepping and burning photographs but even performing Hindu funeral rites for me. This is not just an insult to the Hindus but also to the Muslims,” he said in a press conference in Penang earlier today.

The Bagan MP pointed out that unlike the young mischief makers, several of whom have apologised for their actions over the week, those from Perkasa and other pro-Umno supporters have yet to come forward to do the same.

Despite this, Lim said the authorities appeared overly determined to throw the book at the youths, even opening a probe against them under the Sedition Act, a law that the government has promised it will repeal soon.

He urged the government to have a “big heart” and accept the apologies offered by the two teenagers over the picture-stomping incident, saying it was punishment enough their actions were heavily publicised.

In a separate statement here, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang suggested the same, and urged a Cheras-based private college to reverse its decision to expel one of the teenagers, the 19-year old boy from Batu Pahat.

“This incident just shows that Perkasa is Umno and Umno is Perkasa. Clearly, they do not need the non-Malay votes,” Guan Eng said.

“The way they behave... BN does not need the non-Malay votes, they do not want the non-Malay votes and I think this message has been passed throughout Malaysia.”

Other opposition politicians have railed against the authorities for the speed with which they have reprimanded the youths for the incident, noting a failure to do the same against pro-Umno, pro-BN and Perkasa activists who previously committed the comparable offences.

Malay right wing group Perkasa had in May this year organised a mock funeral for Lim.

The group’s leaders, as well as other pro-Umno activists have also held numerous protests where the photographs of prominent Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders and civil society activists like Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan were trampled on or even torched.

Shortly after the April 28 Bersih rally in the city, a group of army veterans had also performed butt exercises outside Ambiga’s home.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-punishing-teens-will-torch-bns-non-malay-support/

林冠英抨击国阵：不要设法欺侮小孩，却对贪腐领袖闭眼

2012年9月7日

民主行动党兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英那个于2012年9月7日在吉隆坡发表声明：

内政部长必须为警方用手铐对付一个19岁青少年的刻薄和严厉做法作出道歉，只因为她仅踩踏首相拿督斯里纳吉的肖像，然而即使被控告贪污的国阵领袖都没被拷上手铐。

首相纳吉应该展示他的宽容，不只是接受踩踏他肖像青少年的道歉，也必须停止他高高上在，以权威来惩罚他们，他们不是犯了令人发指的罪行，如谋杀、武装抢劫和强奸。内政部长拿督斯里希山慕丁必须为警方的苛刻和严厉手法道歉，包括以手铐铐住一名19岁女生，只因为她踩踏了首相的肖像，然而即使贪污的国阵领袖都没被拷上手铐。

国人对用手铐对付一个自首而且年仅19岁的女孩感到愤怒，手铐多只是用来对付暴力、涉及暴力罪案行，或可能企图逃跑的人，对一个自首年轻女孩扣上手铐，只不过是滥用权力和羞辱的行为。

吉隆坡总警长末玛沙列辩称为少女上手铐“温柔符合程序”，因为她的手被拷在前面而不是背后，这样的说法不仅证明警方不敏感、不负责任，也没有意义。为什么国阵领袖获得特殊的待遇，他们被控告贪污和欺骗公众时，双手没被拷在背后？

希山慕丁说，必须严厉对付那些参与极端和传播憎恨国家领袖的分子，这是明显的滥权，一个没有涉及任何严重刑事罪行，如谋杀、强奸或武装抢劫的青少年，在刑事法典第290条文（公共骚扰之处罚））和第504条文下（蓄意侮辱）下被调查。在第290条文下被定罪者可能被罚款高达400令吉，而第504条被判有罪，可能监禁长达两年或罚款，或两者兼施。

希山慕丁允许警方严厉的行为，证明他双重标准，因为那些以类似方式对净选盟联合主席拿督安美嘉的人，如在其家门前摆汉堡摊及跳臀舞羞辱她的人士，却没有被采取任何行动。安美嘉的照片也被焚烧，她也以素食及兴都徒自居，这些人公然在其私邸烧烤汉堡。

同样的，当我的肖像被土权踩踏、焚烧，甚至进行葬礼仪式时，也不见当局展开了任何行动。为什么土权以此方式攻击民联反对党的非马来人领袖时，却没有遭到提控？那些在去年由巫统及土权在槟城大桥展开的暴力示威行动中，殴打打记者的人士，怎么又没有被对付？

难道希山慕丁及警方要试图告诉国人：踩踏一张照片的罪行比贪污更严重？让年轻及手无寸铁的孩子受害，他们只是在揭示自己是恶霸和懦夫。让年轻的女孩子及青少年面对这等的对待，证明了希山慕丁滥用权力、双重标准、善于欺负人的懦弱战术，也考验他是否适合出任内政部长这个职位。

來源：http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=39561:dont-try-to-bully-the-kids-but-close-an-eye-to-corrupt-bn-leaders-guan-eng&Itemid=2

DON'T TRY TO BULLY the kids but close an eye to corrupt leaders - Guan Eng slams BN

Written by  Lim Guan Eng

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should show he has got a big heart by not just forgiving the teenagers who have apologised for stamping on his picture but also stop the high-handed and severe punishment of them as if they had committed some heinous crime of murder, armed robbery and rape.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein Onn must apologise for the police’s harsh and heavy-handed treatment including a 19-year old girl with handcuffs merely for stamping on the pictures of the Prime Minster Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when even BN leaders charged for corruption were not handcuffed.

All out to humiliate the youths

Malaysians are outraged by the handcuffs placed on the kids which included 19 year-old girl who voluntarily surrendered. Handcuffs are not usually required unless the accused is violent, or has committed a crime of violence, or may attempt to escape. In this case, handcuffing a young girl who had voluntarily surrendered is nothing but an abuse of power and an act of humiliation.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohmad Salleh has defended his men for handcuffing a 19-year-old girl who surrendered herself yesterday saying that the matter was very "light" and mild as she was handcuffed in front and not behind her back as proper procedures required.

Such statements not only show that the police is insensitive, irresponsible and not making any sense as why BN leaders were given special treatment and not handcuffed in the back when they were charged for corruption or cheating the public?

Hishammuddin had said stern action against those involved had to be taken as the incident is extreme and aimed at sowing hatred for the country leaders.

This is a clear abuse of power when the teenagers are investigated not for any serious criminal offences like murder or rape or armed robbery but under sections 290 and 504 of the Penal Code for being public nuisances and intentionally causing insult with an intent to provoke break the public peace, respectively. Those convicted under Section 290 may be fined up to RM400 while those found guilty under Section 504 are liable to be jailed up to two years or fined, or both.

Double standards, deliberate hypocrisy

By allowing such stern action, Hishamuddin practices double standards as no action was taken against those who behaved in a similar manner against Bersih co-Chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan when her picture was burnt and her dignity assaulted by a “butt-dance” performance as well as a “burger protest” in which beef burgers were grilled outside her private residence despite the fact that she is known to be a Hindu and a vegetarian.

Neither was any action taken when my own picture was stepped on, burnt and funeral rites performed with my image by Perkasa. Why is it Perkasa members are not charged for such offensive action against non-Malay leaders from the opposition PR? Why is it no action was taken against those who beat up reporters during a violent demonstration on Penang Bridge?

Is Hishamuddin and the police trying to tell Malaysians that stepping on a picture is a more serious crime compared to corruption?

By victimising young, powerless and defenceless kids, they are merely revealing themselves to be bullies and cowards. The treatment suffered by the young girl and teenagers shows the abuse of power, double-standards, bullying and cowardly tactics of Hishamuddin that question his fitness as Home Minister.

LIM GUAN ENG IS PENANG CHIEF MINISTER & DAP SEC-GEN

Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=39561:dont-try-to-bully-the-kids-but-close-an-eye-to-corrupt-bn-leaders-guan-eng&Itemid=2

Is it necessary to handcuff the teen girl?

8:49AM Sep 6, 2012

YOURSAY 'Why handcuff and humiliate a teenage girl for expressing her disappointment with our country's leader?'

Merdeka eve incidents: Teen turns herself in

Longyan Ren: Whatever the merits or otherwise of bringing charges against these 11 individuals, most onlookers will see it as intimidation and harassment where the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is constantly using the full might of the law to go after those who are not on the same page as the government.

I think this is going to cost Umno-BN some precious votes, especially among the youths and first-time voters.

Artong Penang: It's a black day for our country. Shame on those who gave the order to make the arrest. Why do you need to handcuff and humiliate a teenage girl for expressing her disappointment with our country's leader?

Where is our freedom of expression? What sedition?

LittleGiant: Charging a teenager under the Sedition Act for an alleged controversial incident is really shocking. Is this what Malaysia is all about?

But there is consolation. What PDRM is doing could actually go a long way towards a huge increase of support for Pakatan Rakyat in the next elections.

Swipenter: The action of PDRM in handcuffing the teenager is an overkill, much like squashing a mosquito with a sledge hammer.

People are already watching closely how the police are carrying out their duties when dealing with protestors on both sides of the divide.

The law must be applied and seen to apply evenly and impartially to all, but clearly this is not the case and it is contributing to the already seething anger and frustration of the people towards the police and the present administration.

Onyourtoes: Why so dramatic? Is it necessary to handcuff her? She has voluntarily turned herself in, she was not running away.

This is intimidation - a show of force, to make her an example so that the rest will toe in line. But I think you don't know the hearts of the people have already turned against you.

Raj 5503: I feel sad as a Malaysian that we have come to this level. These are youths who are venting their frustrations. Do you think intimidating them will make any difference? It only angers people further when we know double standards are employed.

Don't mistake me. I don't condone mooning at leaders in public. However, mooning in this instance could be an expression of frustration and anger at people whom we rely on but who fail us.

It does not matter which political party they come from. Our elected representatives from both divide have consistently let us down.

Slap the youths concerned on the wrist so that they would be more guarded in their actions and learn to practice the freedom given to them wisely and without hurting others. Then let them go.

But don't humiliate them! You will only lose them. Harness the energy of the young and we may just become a glorious nation once again.

Sickening: Selective prosecution - that is what all this is about. Umno can do whatever it wants to opposition leaders and Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan. That is why BN is finished.

Multi Racial: Well, aren't we are moving from bad to worse. What have we shown to the world?

1) We practice double standard.

2) We are intolerant.

3) Democracy is more or less dead in this country.

4) Our police are not impartial as they work for a political party rather than enforcing the law without fear and favour.

From a political standpoint, PM Najib Abdul Razak just made himself look bad. Sometimes I do wonder who is advising him.

X123581321: She is a hero. Honour her name.

Queenie: I have his picture pasted on the bullseye of my dartboard so now I have to take it off.

Pity, I was getting to be quite accurate with my throws. Congratulations, inspector-general of police (IGP), your men did an excellent job in apprehending a violent criminal and handcuffing her.

Anonymous #72737246: I saw someone throwing a nasi lemak wrapper on the ground and then another person stepped on it. The wrapper was an old newspaper.

Can I also make a police report because the newspaper wrapper had a picture of the PM on it too?

SdnJF36784: I hope the authorities do not come down harsh on her as she is young and has a bright future, just like the two guys bound over for statutory rape recently.

Changeagent: If PDRM can spend less time escorting BN VVIPs, singing and performing at shopping centres, launching a national manhunt for the boy who bared his buttocks, and arresting a young girl who merely walked on a poster of their beloved Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, maybe, just maybe, our national crime rates might be lower and all Malaysians can also feel safer.

Anonymous #21828131: I lost my gold chain to snatch thieves four months ago in Seremban. My son-in-law lost his in Kuala Lumpur seven months ago. We never made any police report because we know the outcome.

We read about snatch thieves daily in the newspapers. Yesterday a man passed away in the hospital trying to catch a snatch thief. The PDRM is well aware of such incidents, but sadly to date it has failed to come up with any answer to the problem. That's because they spend so much of time, money and energy on everything else.

Go and handcuff all the snatch thieves if you can.

Kee Thuan Chye: Sedition? What sedition? How did stepping on Najib's photo amount to sedition? Did it lead to violence of any kind? Was anyone harmed?

And why was the girl handcuffed like a criminal? Why was her male friend arrested too - and also handcuffed?

It looks like we are turning into a police state - but worse than that, a police state with different sets of laws for different sets of people. As long as you're pro-BN and piss on photos of opposition leaders, you're okay. What has happened to the rule of law?

Wira: Handcuffed? We certainly rarely, if not never, saw VIPs who stole billions being handcuffed when they were arrested. This is clearly intimidation of the masses.
Very soon, you may even be deemed seditious if you tell people to vote against BN.

Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/208091

“土权焚烧肖像未受对付＂，冠英斥政府双重標准

2012-09-03 19:13

（吉隆坡3日讯）民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英指出，国阵政府採取选择性检控、双重標准及彻底的种族主义，却不採取法律行动对付极端的土著权威组织成员，他们在光大焚烧並踩踏他的肖像，甚至在他家外面“举办葬礼＂。

他发表文告说，民主行动党强烈谴责数名人士於国庆前夕，在吉隆坡独立广场踩踏首相拿督斯里纳吉的肖像。但是，如果內政部长拿督斯里希山可以保证內政部將採取果断、快速的法律行动来对付这些犯罪分子的挑衅行动，他会不会採取同样的行动，对付那样对民联领袖的肖像做同样事情的国阵支持者？

“至今为止，当局还没有採取任何行动对付那些对民联领袖肖像不敬的国阵政治失意人士。

很明显的，国阵政府採取选择性检控、双重標准及彻底的种族主义，却不採取法律行动对付极端的土著权威组织成员，这些人在光大焚烧並踩踏我的肖像，甚至在我家外面｀举办葬礼’。＂还有，他说，为甚么那些在净选盟联合主席安美嘉的家门前滋事挑衅的人士，到今天都还没有被对付？更令人伤心的是，国阵成员党非马来人部长如此懦弱，要求对付踩踏首相肖像的人士，却不敢要求对付踩踏华裔首长肖像的人士。

来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/259734?tid=1