“Overreacting.” This what MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan has to say about the police report that Geng Ustaz made against the Hokkien Associations of Malaysia.

Geng Ustaz lodged its police report yesterday against the associations for their move to gather signatures to oppose the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Jurisdiction) Act, also known as Act 355.

The report was lodged by Geng Ustaz president Norazli Musa, who is also Perak PAS Dewan Ulama information chief.

Geng Ustaz accused the associations of contravening constitutional provisions guaranteeing the freedom of religion, and urged the police to investigate the Hokkien Associations of Malaysia under the Sedition Act.

For Ong, making the police report is the right of Geng Ustaz, or the Ulama Lovers and Supporters Group.

However, he said, the associations were merely acting in the spirit of "freedom of expression" and there was nothing wrong in what they intended to do.

"In the spirit of freedom of expression and speech, the Hokkien Associations see hudud as a threat to a multiracial, multireligious country… Nobody should threaten them or suppress them," he said.

"It is wrong to deny a legitimate (demand) that is being carried out under a peaceful and lawful framework.

"I think they (Geng Ustaz) are overreacting," Ong told reporters after the Utar student financial aid awards ceremony in Sungai Long, Selangor, today.

MCA will provide legal aid to the associations if necessary.

"Not only to the Hokkien Associations of Malaysia, but to any social just movement in this matter. In this case, we support the associations," he said.

Asked if the BN supreme council had held a meeting on PAS president Hadi Awang's Private Member’s Bill on Act 355, Ong denied it.

"So far we have not had a meeting on it.

"We have not received any notice on this. It is an ongoing issue that we discuss from time to time," he said.

The next sitting of Parliament will be in mid-October.