I completely agree with the measures taken by the authorities to educate the public and completely eradicate the highly despicable acts of obscene gestures especially directed at civil servants in public. Pointing the middle finger and other such obscene acts have peaked to unacceptable levels in our society and need to be arrested immediately.

The argument of getting carried away in the festive and joyous atmosphere of a birthday celebration sounds hollow. A first-time offence, in the eyes of the law, is still an offence nonetheless. I hope it was a stern warning and not just a slap on the hand issued by the magistrate to Alias Md Din for his creative public displays at the police crackdown on Anwar Ibrahim's birthday bash on Sunday. It is just not done in our civil society.

If this type of act goes unpunished, just imagine how the public officers, politicians and leaders are going to react or retaliate? They will have no choice but to resort to an eye for an eye.

But the authorities have let one escaped from punishment. What about Adnan Yaakob and his 'trick of hands' at the Sanggang by-election? He is still leading our biggest state in the peninsula!