Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San accused the Selangor BN today of intruding into his privacy by sending him a birthday greeting through the short message service (SMS).

Lau said the SMS was sent to him on Feb 12 to greet him on his 35th birthday, with the name, Mohd Zin Mohamed, as the sender.

At a press conference held at the Selangor DAP headquarters, Lau showed reporters the SMS, which was written in Malay and English.

NONE “ Dear Lau Weng San, Selamat Menyambut Hari Lahir. Happy Birthday. Ikhlas from DS Ir. Mohd Zin Mohamed, Kordinator BN Selangor. Sayangi Selangor, Yakini BN, ” reads the SMS.

Lau also claimed that he had received more than 10 festive greetings and survey messages over the past two years from six senders, with Mohd Zin allegedly sending him these messages through four phone lines.

An annoyed Lau said he could tolerate the previous messages, but that the latest was “the straw that broke the camel's back” as the sender might also know his identity card (IC) number.

'BN so desperate as to intrude privacy'

“BN is so desperate that they have to intrude one’s privacy to fish for votes in the coming general election,” he said.

Lau said the service providers denied leaking his private information through an email after he lodged an official complaint to express his dismay and shock.

Selangor Umno liaison committee secretary Mohd Zin Mohamed When contacted, Mohd Zin ( right ) denied that sending birthday greeting SMSes was an act of intrusion of privacy, saying it was not wrong to do so as it was a good gesture from the Selangor BN.

“Where is infringement into his private life? I am not accessing his account and medical record. It’s like posting on Facebook wall and Twitter. Is it infringement?” Mohd Zin, who is the MP for Sepang, asked.

As to how Selangor BN obtained the date of Lau’s birth and sent the message to a number that Lau claimed he never told anyone, Mohd Zin said this was done in two stages.

Key name into electoral roll

First, they would key in any name into the electoral roll and if the name is correct, the person’s IC number would appear, with which they could determine the birthday.

Secondly, Mohd Zin suspects Lau might have released his information to a source, with the source later revealing this to a ‘missionary’ on the ground who the Selangor Umno tasked to gather information for it to get in touch with the rakyat.

Umno has been accused of being arrogant and not caring about others, which was why it came up with new approach to engaging with the rakyat, he said, adding that the party’s role was to help BN to win in the coming general election.

Lau, Mohd Zin said, should try to remember whether he had given his contact number to anybody.

“Is it wrong to send SMS birthday wishes? If you can accept, then you accept. This is done out of good gesture, so what is the fuss about ?” he asked.

Many people, he added, had come to thank him and express their appreciation for the messages sent.

Mohd Zin also denied that Umno obtained information about the rakyat through illegal means or purchased these from service providers.