YOURSAY ‘What is going on here? IGP and minister not on the same page.’
But Zahid says church protest seditious
Kingfisher: It is very disturbing to ordinary citizens when the home minister and the chief police officer in the nation are of different views on fundamental questions of law and practice.
This could be indicative of a misreading of law and practice, or worse it could be a dismantling of the institutional fabric of roles and responsibilities due to a corrupting erosion of professional decorum arising from personal prejudices.
In both cases, it is detrimental to the people's regard for law and order.
It would seem that the police chief has been much maligned since assuming office for his lack of competence and for rash actions.
It often suspected that when respect for top political and government leaders decline even diminishes significantly in the eyes of the public, especially under allegation of corruption and abuses of accountability, there could arise a tendency for petty absolutism among some senior civil officers. In some cases, even coups have taken place.
Ben-ghazi: What is going on here? The IGP and his minister are not on the same page. Don't they know the law? Neither of the two is a lawyer but don't they have legal advisers?
This kind of contradiction happens because the law itself is not clear in its wordings. The amended Sedition Act seems to be half-baked.
Otherwise how can there be two conflicting interpretations - diametrically opposed to each other. Malaysians would be better off is the law is just scrapped.
SteveOh: PM Najib Abdul Razak has a millstone around his neck with an extravagant wife judging from Dr Mahathir Mohamad's criticisms and a line-up of questionable ministers and an under-performing IGP.
Hardly a day passes without a leader saying something only to be contradicted the next day. In two reports, one following the other, the IGP told the public the mob incursion at the church in 'Crossgate' is not seditious but was quickly contradicted by the home minister who told journalists, "Of course, yes, yes, yes."
The police should arrest and charge the culprits who criminally threatened The Star journalist and those who had taken part in the illegal demonstration.
They have brought shame upon their own heads and Islam. The last thing Malaysia needs is mob rule and vigilantes creating anarchy.
The IGP said no one had lodged a police report against the mob. What is the church waiting for? And put back the cross.
Vijay47: Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, you and your comrades in Umno, including the latest member, the IGP, have such poor credibility that we will only believe your stand when you take firm action not only against the hooligans and thugs who demonstrated at the church but also and especially against the IGP.
That man has single-handedly done much more than anyone else to damage, almost irrecoverably, the fragile fabric of whatever racial and religious harmony we have.
His selective enforcement of the law, his cavalier dismissal of wrongdoing when it suits his political masters, and his disregard for due process is something any other police officer would have been ashamed of. Khalid regales in it.
But you are no better. Your contemptible record is equally unworthy of admiration or pride. If your latest statement is to suggest that you have finally reformed, let it be reflected in the only appropriate recourse open to you - the sacking of Khalid Abu Bakar and charging him with gross dereliction of duty.
Rupert16: This is one of the rare occasions that Zahid is saying and doing the right thing. How can the Twitter and handcuff-happy IGP cleared the Taman Medan demonstrators of sedition when they are clearly inciting religious hatred and acting like goons?
It is obvious that the IGP is bias. Right-minded people would have discussed with the church first and get it to understand their feelings and viewpoints, and will only resort to demonstration as a last resort.
Pemerhati: If what Zahid says is true then expect a friendly police investigation of the culprits while having tea and cakes and then a slight rap on the knuckles, such as a small fine, as happened in the case of the thugs who were involved in the cow-head incident .
There will almost certainly not be a midnight raid followed by a stay in the police cell and the donning of the purple uniform as is the norm for the opposition leaders and others.
Anonymous_1421406986: I find the Minister's stand very heartening. The law is very clear, that all Malaysians have the right to freedom of practicing their own religion without being harassed by others.
The gathering of protestors at the church was definitely wrong. The call for the cross - "itu barang" - to be brought down was definitely a threat.
If the pastor had not defused the situation by agreeing to bring down the cross, it could have erupted into violence, with innocent people getting hurt and properties destroyed.
The mastermind behind the act must definitely be hauled up to face the law.
Keanjin: His brother was at the protest. That is why the police chief said the protest was not seditious, but the home minister said otherwise.
Who is right? If the Sedition Act is so complicate that both high-level people have a difference view on the same incident, what do you expect from the laymen like us?
‘He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother’
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