‘Yes, these are the words I would use to describe those Umno Youth members who roughed up a helpless and wheelchair- bound Karpal Singh.’
On 'Singh is King' mobbed, MP claims assault
Peter Ooi: Disgusting, shameful, despicable and highly barbaric. Yes, these are the words I would use to describe those Umno Youth members who roughed up a helpless and wheelchair- bound Karpal Singh.
I used to see images of lawmakers exchanging blows in the parliaments of Third World countries but that pales in comparison with what those Umno Youth members did in manhandling a poor old man.
Is this what Umno preaches? When all avenues to bring Karpal Singh to his knees fail, is this the last resort - physical intimidation and assault?
If that is the way Umno solves its problems, I fear that the nation's destiny is in grave danger. It used to be 'might is right' in the years gone by. But nowadays, with nations all over encouraging a K-economy, brain power is might.
In this aspect, Khairy should challenge Karpal Singh to a public debate on the latter’s legality of taking action against the Sultan of Perak. This is the civilised way.
It is a cowardly act for 20 young men to take on a weak, old man who can hardly walk. If those guys are not ashamed of their act, I am.
Kee Yong: The recent attempt by a bunch of Umno Youths at Parliament is another example of how arrogant and without reason these people are.
Seriously, who are the Public Enemies Number One in Malaysia? What is so sad about their farce is that they, once again, they embarrassed the Malays.
Surely, the rest of the Malays in Malaysia who equally feel outraged and humiliated by this bunch of hooligans should rise up and reject their very existence.
I know I would if we have hooligan young Chinese who might someday ‘represent’ us. A humbler, sensible, and matured Malaysia should rid itself of such elements.
I am not even wasting my energy on KJ. He might think he is above his fellow Malays but I simply don't see it. I can only excuse him due to his immature ethos of the world he lives in and his livelihood.
If he truly wants to lead, he has to show us something contrary to what he has managed to express himself thus far - both in his language, his thoughts, and his maturity.
Jane Arveena: Gone were the days where people had uttermost respect for the elders. Gone were the days when people acknowledged the disabilities of a handicapped and gave them space to, at least, wheel into the most prominent law sanctuary of the country.
Our opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim sums it all when he condemns the incident calling it the ‘pinnacle of insolence’.
True enough, the word Karpal Singh used in the Parliament was quite crude, but compared to the amount of stress and humiliation he goes through each and every single day, I don’t blame him.
He wakes up to a mass of vindictive people, chanting ominously and being ubiquitous, right at his home to the very place he works.
Does a man at his age have to go through this indignation and miscarriage of justice? After all these years of fighting for righteousness, for a less racist society and picking up the pieces when he fails doing so, does he deserve to be treated this way?
After all, he did apologise. People, or should I say, human beings, should forgive each aother and get on with life.
They shouldn’t go, ‘Saya anak Pemuda Umno! Saya anak Pemuda Umno!’ and start bashing everyone that comes in their way. Something absolutely uncivilised to do in this 21st century.
Bhavana A: I read with great dismay the presence of hooliganism and terrorism in the august House.
The home minister should name these terrorists and distribute the photographs of those involved Please do not lie that all 22 involved have been arrested. They should be detained under the ISA.
We, the citizens, are fed up with rowdy attitudes, corruption, party-hopping, bribing, misuse of the police, MACC’s biased investigations etc.
It is high time that Umno dissolve both the Parliament and state assemblies and call for fresh elections to prove that it still has the people’s support.
RJ Manecksha: Rent a mob and mobilise it to intimidate. Malaysians were witness to an ugly scene by an insecure lot.
Peter: Umno Youth’s arrogance is born out of incredible ignorance! When Karpal used the expression ‘Singh is kingg’, everyone who watches TV and Astro would know that he was referring to the film ‘Singh is Kingg’ and was just making a point that he would not be cowed by extremists and their leader wanna-bes.
The three who are vying for pole position in Umno Youth are trying to outdo each other in the coming party elections by pandering to the herd mentality of their sycophantic followers.
If this expression ‘Singh is kingg’ (note the spelling) is tantamount to disrespecting our sultans then the film should have been taken off the air and some scapegoat’s head in Astro or Angkasapuri should roll.
How these people can associate Karpal's use of the expression with showing disrespect to our rulers is mind-boggling!
The good I can see coming out of this new ‘loss of power’ fear disguised in mob and unruly behaviour is that the more threats - real or imagined - they perceive arising out of the aftermath of the March 8 tsunami the more they are driven out of their holes.
And when they act and open their mouths, the more they expose themselves for what they truly are - a bunch of self serving desperadoes who are confused as to how to act.
Their modus operandi of inciting racial sentiment and tension is now a double-edged sword that would cut the ground from under their feet in the new Malaysian political scenario.
Albert: The incident where a MP was mobbed in Parliament is a disgrace to Malaysian democracy.
The security people were there, but did not even come forward to disperse the mob. This is a disgrace. I am disappointed that the arrest for those responsible and of those that took part was not ordered immediately.
Kaisim: I felt terribly disgusted to see this group of hooligans coming to Parliament and harassing a handicapped man on wheelchair.
Malaysians have witnessed how Umno Youths members violently disrupted Parliament sittings. Some of them still have the mob tendency and practice the law of the jungle
What Kapal did was more referring to legal aspects based on the constitution. Is it wrong to speak up for what is right?
The behavior of these leaders shows how narrow-minded they are. It is the injustice that makes the people so sick of a government which drags its feet over fair and just actions while its members play the racial card.
Umno Youth is the greatest hypocrite. The BN government withdrew some of the powers of the sultans and capped their allowances during Mahathir`s time. Why didn't Umno Youth make noise or demonstrate?
Needless to say, all Malaysians respect the Agong and the sultans. It is in the Rukun Negara. Umno Youths, please don`t drag the royalty into politics for your own selfish agenda.
Political Observer:
This confrontation made by 22 men claiming to be Selangor Umno Youth members is uncalled for.Such unruly behaviour that reflects the poor morals of a respectable organisation should immediately get the attention of the authorities.
Yet, it is interesting to observe that the top people within Umno have not taken any disciplinary action against these members for such behaviour.
It is actions like these that further distances Umno from the rest of society.
Anonymous: The incident of the scuffle in the Parliament is the beginning of Umno showing its true colour. They will do anything to instill fear in the rakyat.
This tells us that BN will do whatever possible to win at the next general election. It won't be that easy from now on. This is a war between the educated versus the uneducated.
Bryan Tee: The word samseng is a perfect word to describe their behavior. We are from a developing country and all Umno Youth members are educated people (I assume).
But their action is so childish. Our beloved government always says ‘no’ to demonstration and to violence. Will they now take action against these Umno Youth members?
I’m disappointed with such behavior and it a shame for Umno Youth.
Jr Lee: It requires some planning to gather 22 men to meet outside the Parliament and wait for Karpal Singh to use the ramp. How could the security personnel not notice such a large crowd gathered?
And all these men were not MPs and the security personnel could have easily spotted that as they see the faces of MPs day in and day out.
The entire episode appears to be well-orchestrated and may even involve the security personnel being warned not to intervene.
There are many CCTVs there and the faces of these 22 Umno mobsters would have easily been captured. The question now is will the police take action against these 22 for premeditated assault against a handicapped person?
The 22 Umno mobsters can also be charged for illegal assembly (an offence which the police commonly use against the opposition) and for disturbing public peace.
Or will the police adopt a tidak apa or a ‘close one eye’ attitude? Malaysian citizens have a right to know and justice be seen to be fairly implemented.
Kumar: Malaysia is the new Zimbabwe!
Maniam Sankar: Dear so called leaders of Umno Youth; your actions reflect on the PM and the party.
In fact you should be seen as the future of the party. People will decide if they still want Umno based on your performance and shoo Umno out if what you show is not promising.
It is definitely not promising of you:
- To not condemn your members, including branch chairpersons, who had the temerity to block an elected MP in the halls of Parliament.
- You should go the next step and urge them to be arrested. After all, you have previously called for the arrest and even citizenship-stripping of others not supportive of you.
- To even allow Khir Toyo to contest for your top post when he comes with seriously soiled hands.
- To protest against rational-thinking when people challenge a sultan’s wish. And if they should not, what did Mahathir do over your silence?
Your stance is that your people should be listened to without question. You guys forget history and you will forsake the country.
And the PM, whose party you represent, condones your action at his peril.
