Was the fictional ‘YB Josephine’ in a short-story really developed around Seputeh DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok?

When contacted, Kok would not hazard a guess, reserving her suspicions and declining to comment on the fictional tale by novelist Chamil Wariya, which was published in Utusan Malaysia’s weekend edition Mingguan Malaysia .

“It is best for me to not comment on that matter… I have filed a lawsuit against them and they have filed a lawsuit against me. I don't think I should speak about this any more,” said Kok.

teresa kok sue utusan jalan duta court 091008 02 She was referring to her RM30 million suit against Utusan Malaysia and its columnist Mohd Zaini Hassan for allegedly defaming her.

The short story entitled ‘Politik baru YB J’ relates how Alam Maya MP Josephine pushes for reform against race-based politics. Her revolutionary thinking eventually marks her out for assassination.

The story starts with Josephine pondering her political viewpoint which promotes equality among all races. However, an allegation claiming that she is anti-Islam and anti-Malay leaves her confused, and she seeks clarification from her driver Ahmad.

Ahmad tells her that the allegation “may be true or it may not be true”, depending on one’s perspective. As the conversation ends, they arrive at their destination where Josephine is due to deliver a speech at a dialogue session with some 500 students.

At that juncture, a participant walks towards Josephine pointing a revolver at her and fires several shots straight to her heart, and kills himself too at the end.

The story says the murder was prompted by Josephine being “a threat to harmony” and therefore, “it was best to end her life so that the multiracial community may live in peace”.

‘Irresponsible piece of literary licence’

The story has not gone down well with DAP’s Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang who asserted in Parliament yesterday that the tale was modelled on Kok.

anwar ibrahim sodomy allegation saiful bukhari azlan first day in court 070808 lim kit siang 01 In a statement on his blog, Lim blasted Chamil “for an irresponsible piece of literary licence for inciting the killing of Teresa Kok”.

Women’s rights activist and blogger, Marina Mahathir reacted similarly, saying that the story was “despicable”, without saying that the character was modelled on Kok.

Instead Marina said in a blog posting: “Am I imagining it or is there also a sexist element to all this? That because it is a woman who is outspoken, she is subject to a more violent response than anyone else?

“There is no excuse for violence or even the suggestion of a violent solution to anyone who has a different view from you.

“To write a fictionalised account of such a 'what-if' scenario is also no excuse. Utusan Malaysia has lost whatever shred of moral high ground it might have had.”

Kok’s lawyer Sankara Nair told Malaysiakini that they have not decided on the next course of action as there is already a suit against Utusan Malaysia .

Nevertheless, he said DAP leaders might lodge a police report soon.

Kok has been targeted for several attacks recently, with some reports leading to her seven-day detention under the Internal Security Act for purportedly insulting Islam.

After she was released, molotov cocktails were thrown into the compound of her family house, while her image was torn off her Hari Raya banners.