PKR: Will Najib, IGP act against Umno's incitement?

Published: Jan 19, 2014 11:32 AM | Updated: Jan 19, 2014 6:49 PM

PKR has challenged the prime minister and the inspector-general of police (IGP) to act on Umno members who allegedly made

PKR has challenged the prime minister and the inspector-general of police (IGP) to act on Umno members who allegedly made threats of another May 13 riot at a protest in Penang yesterday.

"This action by Umno is dangerous, vicious and a blatantly criminal act.

"More shocking is that an Umno member of parliament Reezal Merican Naina Merican was part of this criminal Umno mob.

"Is it the policy of Umno to instigate bloodshed and destroy the peace of the country?" asked PKR vice president N Surendran in a statement today.

Yesterday the Umno members gathered in the Pakatan state to demonstrate against the ridiculing of Prime Minister Najib Razak's kangkung fiasco.

The protest had a distinctly racial tones with placards such as 'ABCD, asal bukan cina DAP', 'Don't challenge the Malays' and 'DAP leaders' mouths caused May 13... Want more?"

Najib has hit international news as far as the UK for lamenting that nobody praises the government for reducing prices, citing the humble vegetable.

Netizens have since turned what is seen as a glib and insensitive remark in the face of serious cost of living issues, into a national joke.

"The crimes they have committed by making this threat include incitement to violence, criminal intimidation (section 503 of the Penal Code) and public mischief (section 505 of the Penal Code).

"More seriously, Penang Umno leaders and members have also committed activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy contrary to section 124B of the Penal Code and is liable to imprisonment for up 20 years," noted Surendran.

'North Korea-style leader'

Surendran said the lack of action against yesterday's protest inciting bloodshed was a stark contrast to the police's heavy handed reaction to the opposition's peaceful gatherings.

The Umno demonstrators were protesting against a flash mob organised by PKR's Machang Bubuk state assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon on Wednesday, where kankung had been stuffed into the mouth of a Najib effigy.

Surendran defended the flash mob, saying that there was nothing inappropriate about it and that the premier - who is also Umno president - is not above criticism.

"With increasing loss of support and public anger over price increases, a desperate Umno is trying to create North Korea-style personality politics by prohibiting criticism of the Umno president," he said.

Surendran urged Najib to condemn Penang Umno for the protest on Jan 18 and urged the party's central body to take action against its Kepala Batas MP for his involvement.

"We call upon the IGP to immediately arrest and bring charges against those involved in the criminal Jan 18 incitement to murder and riot," he said.