DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok is facing the firing squad over the nude ear squats scandal, leading the opposition leader to describe this as a classic example of 'shooting the messenger'.

Umno Senator Syed Ali Alhabshee called for action to be taken against Kok for exposing a video-clip on the matter last month, which he claimed, had shamed the victim.

Also flaying the opposition MP, Senator Dayang Mahani Tun Panglima Ahmad said Kok had put the nation in a negative light.

She also accused Kok and opposition leader Lim Kit Siang of seeking cheap publicity when they brought four Chinese nationals , who complained of police abuse earlier, to Parliament.

Because of this incident, the senator said the police were 'punished' from the onset although what had happened was routine procedure in cases involving drug abuse.

Meanwhile, Umno Kemaman MP Ahmad Shabery Chik wants both Kok and Lim to be referred to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee.

Two myths, one fallacy

Responding to the tirade, Lim lamented how the mindset of ancient times still prevailed.

"In the olden times, a king would behead messengers who delivered bad news to him but such a backward mentality is still alive in 21st century modern Malaysia," he said in a statement.

According to Lim, Umno politicians have also succumbed to "two myths and a fallacy" over the incident.

Myth one

"That the showing of the video-clip in Parliament on Nov 24 led Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to send Home Minister Azmi Khalid to China to explain that there is no racial profiling against Chinese tourists and visitors - when the decision was taken before the clip was shown as can be confirmed by Abdullah, Azmi and all cabinet ministers."

Myth two

"That Kok had shown the clip because the victim was a Chinese national when both Kok and I had repeatedly gone on record both inside and outside Parliament to say that it was purely a human rights issue and the nationality of the woman was irrelevant."

The fallacy

"Now that it is established that the woman is a local Malay woman, the whole matter should rest as if as a Malaysian, whether Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban is not entitled to full respect of her human rights and dignity as compared to a foreign national."

Real culprits

Also coming to the defence was DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who described the Umno politicians baying for blood as 'short-sighted' and 'irresponsible'.

The national leadership views the real culprits as not those who commit the crimes but those who expose them, he said in a statement.

"How can the Umno senator claim that Kok had shamed the woman when it is the police who had shamed the woman with such practices that are not sanctioned by any existing law?"

"If she is to be prosecuted for exposing this scandal, then would the press and other ministers be prosecuted?" he asked.

He said Kok was only doing her duty as a parliamentarian and if she is to be prosecuted, "DAP would not only vigorously defend her but also launch a nationwide and international campaign for the right of whistleblowers to receive protection."

The issue is not about the nationality or race of the victim but the fact that her basic human rights were abused, he added.

After the clip was exposed, there was widespread speculation that the victim could be a Chinese national.

However, on Tuesday, the independent commission formed to probe the scandal, confirmed that she was a local Malay woman who was arrested in connection with a drug case.

The clip, recorded using a mobile phone, showed her being forced to do ear squats in the nude while facing a policewoman at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters.