YOURSAY 'Vigilante groups would be formed. Extrajudicial punishments would be the order of the day. Before the people realise it, dictatorship is at their doorstep.'

Police ban Seksualiti Merdeka festival

Ferdtan: The writing's on the wall. It is obvious that fear is being generated by the government through the police.

The opening salvos started with the call to curb human rights by former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad and ex-police chief Abdul Rahim Noor. The police took the cue from them.

The culture of fear would then be manufactured out of nothing to create insecurity among the people. The people would subsequently seek 'protection' from the government.

The government would then graciously accept the responsibility from the people to provide protection - with a little condition; human rights will have to take a back seat.

Vigilante groups would then be formed. Extrajudicial punishments would be the order of the day. Before the people realise it, dictatorship is at their doorstep.

I'm describing the 2006 movie 'V for Vendetta' . Watch the movie to see the similarities of the scenarios.

Argonist: Of course, it is only now that the police find the festival a threat. All previous times, it was not a threat. Indeed, the threat to peace in Malaysia is from the government parties and their cohorts.

Everything is now done to instill the fear of retribution from the people in authority. The masses do not have any more rights.

The recent Himpunan Sejuta Umat, carried out by the most destructive parties in Malaysia, was not a threat simply because it was endorsed by the ruling party.

Shame on all the coalition partners, whose leaders and members have been supporting such actions.

Artchan: Where is the threat to public order? Who is threatening who? Aren't the police supposed to protect the people and ensure that they have the right to meet in a safe environment?

Azizi Khan: So basically, the police is going around looking for another excuse for not doing their jobs - which is to catch criminals.

Shouldn't we just out-source the work of the police? It appears to me that they are simply not interested in real police work anymore.

Armageddon: What is the real threat of Seksualiti Merdeka, deputy IGP Khalid Abu Bakar? You think they will start sodomising each other in the public? With or without this festival, homosexuality is here to stay.

Proarte: Seksualiti Merdeka will be discussing the marginalisation and rights of sexual minorities - it will not be a tutorial on the joys of sodomy.

I think it is important to distinguish between homosexuality and sodomy. It is fair to say that not all sodomists are homosexuals and not all homosexuals are sodomists.

Sodomy is illegal based on our Penal Code which was formulated during the colonial Victorian era. Even India, which is a conservative country, had the good sense to repeal this outdated and repressive piece of legislation.

Frankly, it is a ridiculous law as even oral sex between heterosexuals is illegal, thus criminalising the majority of the sexuality active population of Malaysia.

So the focus on sexual minorities smacks of arbitrariness and prejudice. But then since when under Umno's watch has the police force acted with impartiality and logic?

Anonymous_rb345: What about the 200 mat rempit in Penang who are clearly a threat to public order?

Dev: This is not the first time Seksualiti Merdeka is held. The difference this year - Bersih chief S Ambiga is set to launch it. That's the real reason the cops issued a blanket ban.

My THOR: When your rice bowl and promotion depend on the ruling Umno, what can you do? As expected, the police have no choice but to ‘kowtow' to their bosses even if it is against their conscience.

Ex-IGP Hanif Omar proved this by his appointment as director of Genting Highlands even though he is a Muslim. As PM Najib Razak says: "You help me, I help you."

Onyourtoes: Police, you should say the directive came from God - that would have been more palatable. No one will believe that the order came from the police themselves.

DPM dismisses Seksualiti Merdeka as 'a waste of time'

Compass: People should be allowed express their views on issues such as this and the government has no right to interfere. The government must run the country according to the law and not according to a minister's individual preference.

But of course, DPM Muhyiddin Yassin is a self-proclaimed Malay-first, and not a constitution-first minister.

Avatar 111: This is a typical Umno-bred politician who thinks he can rule the country by pandering to the majority. For them, the minority has no place in our society and belongs to 'a waste of time' group.

Carefour: Since electing BN does not benefit the majority of the population, it too can be considered a waste of time.

Bender: "Even though we accept human rights...," says Muhyiddin. Oh really? Since when?

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