Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email People can speak up, but stay within the law, says Najib
ALOR STAR: Malaysians have every right to speak up but it is against the law to utter seditious words that could lead to racial clashes, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, “People can speak up, but they can’t break the law,” he said. Najib said this when asked to comment on the three members of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) who were charged under the Sedition Act 1948.
The three accused – lawyers P. Waythamoorthy, P. Uthayakumar and V. S. Ganapathi Rao – claimed trial to the charges. The three members allegedly uttered seditious words during a gathering in Batang Berjuntai in Selangor on Nov 16. “Action was taken against the Hindraf members because of the seditious speeches and not because of their plan to organise an illegal gathering in front of the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. “Regardless of who they are, we will take action under the Sedition Act against those who utter words that could stir anger among other races,” Najib said, describing the speeches made by the three men as very seditious.
Najib was speaking to newsmen after opening the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) Entrepreneur Carnival at Darul Aman Stadium here yesterday. On the planned gathering, Najib said those involved would have to face the music because the police did not grant them a permit. “The law is very clear. Those who want to hold gatherings must get a police permit first. People cannot hold such gatherings without a police permit. This is against the law and those involved should face the risk.”
The group had planned to stage the assembly to submit a petition with 100,000 signatures to Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen’s Counsel to represent the Indian community in a class action suit against the British government for bringing Indians as labourers to the then Malaya and exploiting them. The suit, filed at the Royal Courts of Justice in London by Waythamoorthy in August, seeks compensation of up to US$4tril (RM13.5tril) or US$1mil for every Indian in Malaysia.
Democracy? Funny word when its mentioned by all POLOTICIAN’s in M’sia.Do they all really understand the term of DEMOCRACY? Ask them all to go back to school of Political Studies and read about how a certain country is developing..Look at the nearest neighbour..Singapore..so small in size yet WORLD STANDARD,,Aint it a BIG SHAME
It is not about democracy or politics.It is about humanity- depriving sections of community based upon racial mentality.
Is FIFTY years NOT enough to have helped the malays?NOW, help ALL MALAYSIANS based upon meritocracy, not Bumiputra or Ketuanan Melayu.A melayu is no body outside malaysia.
Stop the present RACIST policy and treat ALL MALAYSIANS as EQUALS.