PETALING JAYA: The MCA has hit out at the Umno Youth members who confronted Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP chairman Karpal Singh in Parliament, calling such behaviour unacceptable.
The party’s information and communication bureau chairman Lee Wei Kiat said such physical intimidation “destroys our country’s image in the international stage”, and called for respect to be shown to Parliament.
“Any kind of behaviour or mob rule which forcibly prevents the MPs from entering Parliament not only offends the rakyat but is also an affront against the country’s democratic system, rule of law and also to voters,” he said in a statement.
He called for conflicts and differences in opinions to be debated through a peaceful, democractic and rational platform.
“It is unfortunate that Umno Youth members chose to be irrational and rowdy in voicing out their views in Parliament. Hence their action is tantamount to insulting Parliament,” he said.
On Thursday, the wheelchair-bound Karpal Singh was prevented by a group of Umno Youth members from entering Parliament who demanded an apology from him for calling them celaka.
Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng also condemned the Umno Youth members who confronted Karpal Singh, saying the incident was “embarrassing and disgusting.”
He said Umno had tarnished Malaysia’s image and called for stern action to be taken against the group.
Lim, who is also Bagan MP, said he appreciated that Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had apologised over the incident, but felt it was only right that Umno should do so too.
On Karpal Singh’s use of the word celaka in reference to Umno Youth during his debate speech on Wednesday and his allegation that Umno was responsible for the two bullets he had received in the mail, Lim said the statement was made in the House and it was up to the Speaker to take any action.
This is not only unacceptable but worst a criminal behavior written by Mohamad Ramli bin Abdul Manan,
Saturday, February 28 2009 03:36 pm
I noticed that the Malaysian Police is very quick to investigate the Perak Speaker based on the many 'reports' lodged by Umno including its youth wing, ostensibly and regrettably, on the advice of their President.
The investigation was purportedly made under section 124 of the Penal Code notwithstanding the fact that under Article 72(2) of the Federal Constitution, the Speaker, in the exercise of his duties in the Legislative Assembly and the Committee, is immuned from any proceedings, be it civil or criminal. I would have thought that this would be a classic case where the Police could have NFA'd the case without further investigation. It would have saved much investigative manpower which could have been usefully utilized elswhere.
In my opinion also, the kind of behaviour or conduct exhibited by the Umno youths towards Karpal Singh, an MP, would be a classic case of a section 124 Penal Code offence. There has been no reported case or case precedent on this throughout our 51 years history. Such an offence is very serious and merit a custodial penalty which may extend to 7 years imprisonment. The legislature has deemed it fit to legislate such heavy penal sanction to protect the sanctity of Parliament and its members from being assaulted, or restrained or overawed by means of crininal force by outsiders. The fact that the incident happened within the compound of Parliament makes it worst.
I noticed that under our law, there is no immunity against proceedings granted to Umno youths if they chose to behave in this manner. As such the Police should quickly investigate and proceed to prosecute those offenders.
Under section 110 of the Criminal Procedure Code, it is very clearly stated that, if from information received or otherwise, a police officer suspects the commission of an offence, he has to proceed to the spot to investigate and to arrest the offender. I hope that they don't give the lame excuse that 'no police report' had been lodged to warrant investigation. Under our Criminal Justice System, when an offence is committed in full public view and has been publicly made known to the Authorities, the police has a statutory and mandatory duty to investigate and to prosecute the offender without anyone having to lodge any so-called 'police report'. The crime or offence has been caught in camera and shown on TV. Any investigator would say, it would be a cinch.
Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan
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I noticed that the Malaysian Police is very quick to investigate the Perak Speaker based on the many 'reports' lodged by Umno including its youth wing, ostensibly and regrettably, on the advice of their President.
The investigation was purportedly made under section 124 of the Penal Code notwithstanding the fact that under Article 72(2) of the Federal Constitution, the Speaker, in the exercise of his duties in the Legislative Assembly and the Committee, is immuned from any proceedings, be it civil or criminal. I would have thought that this would be a classic case where the Police could have NFA'd the case without further investigation. It would have saved much investigative manpower which could have been usefully utilized elswhere.
In my opinion also, the kind of behaviour or conduct exhibited by the Umno youths towards Karpal Singh, an MP, would be a classic case of a section 124 Penal Code offence. There has been no reported case or case precedent on this throughout our 51 years history. Such an offence is very serious and merit a custodial penalty which may extend to 7 years imprisonment. The legislature has deemed it fit to legislate such heavy penal sanction to protect the sanctity of Parliament and its members from being assaulted, or restrained or overawed by means of crininal force by outsiders. The fact that the incident happened within the compound of Parliament makes it worst.
I noticed that under our law, there is no immunity against proceedings granted to Umno youths if they chose to behave in this manner. As such the Police should quickly investigate and proceed to prosecute those offenders.
Under section 110 of the Criminal Procedure Code, it is very clearly stated that, if from information received or otherwise, a police officer suspects the commission of an offence, he has to proceed to the spot to investigate and to arrest the offender. I hope that they don't give the lame excuse that 'no police report' had been lodged to warrant investigation. Under our Criminal Justice System, when an offence is committed in full public view and has been publicly made known to the Authorities, the police has a statutory and mandatory duty to investigate and to prosecute the offender without anyone having to lodge any so-called 'police report'. The crime or offence has been caught in camera and shown on TV. Any investigator would say, it would be a cinch.
Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan