Eight groups comprising NGOs and PKR leaders held a small protest today to express their disappointment over police inaction against Kulim-Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin for insulting the Hindus.

They said they have lodged several police reports against the independent parliamentarian at police stations across the nation two days ago, and threatened a protest by thousands of people next week against Zulkifli if there is still no action taken.

“If it (the insult) was aimed at Islam, I think the person belittling the religion would have been arrested under the Sedition Act within 48 hours.

“But why do the Home Ministy and the police pick favours when it comes to other religions?” Tamilar Action Force deputy secretary-general Kannan Ramasamy said.

Barathidasan of MIPAS However, the group of about 25 people appear to be divided on the action they wanted taken against the Perkasa leader.

Malaysian Indians Progressive Association secretary-general S Barathidasan ( right ) wanted Zulkifli to apologise, while Port Dickson assemblyperson M Ravi wants him to be punished.

“Make him an example to people who insult other races,” Ravi said during the protest held in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, Puchong PKR division chief S Murali threatened to distribute copies of Zulkifli’s speech to the Indian community if the government does not take action against him, to discourage them from voting for BN.

Also present at the Brickfields protest were representatives from the PAS Supporters’ Wing, WargaAman, and Pertubuhan Prihatin Bekas Anggota Keselamatan Malaysia, among others.

Protests in Kedah, Penang

In Kulim, Kedah, today, six NGOs lodged police reports and about 500 people staged a peaceful rally against Zulkifli for the same reasons as in Kuala Luimpur.

Spokesperson for the group K Gobalakrishnan said Hindus were upset over Zulkifli's remarks and he called on the relevant authorities, including the attorney-general, to take action.

“People should not belittle the religions of others," Gobalakrishnan told the media.

The reports were lodged at the Kulim police district headquarters, while the rally was held in Padang Serai at 10am.

NONE Later, Bukit Mertajam  DAP Socialist Youth led by Satees Muniandy ( left ) lodged a police report against Zulkifli in Bandar Perda in mainland Penang.

Satees said Zulkifli's comments could be punishable under Section 298A of Penal Code - a law against promoting enmity among different groups - and that there was no reason for police to delay the action.

"We want the home minister and inspector-general of police to come clean and state if Perkasa, U tusan Malaysia , Ibrahim Ali, Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Zulkifli Noordin and other BN-related people have immunity from Malaysian laws.

"So far no action has been taken against them, even though so many incidents involving them have been reported. The best example is police inaction on Ibrahim Ali's call to burn the Bible and Ridhuan Tee's seditious article insulting Thaipusam," Satees added.

Satees took the Penang MIC Youth to task for joining a Perkasa-linked rally in Padang Kota last week, asking "Will MIC leaders now have guts to snub Perkasa, their partners-in-demonstration?"

Several NGOs will be holding another rally to protest against Zulkifli's insult and the inaction of the authorities at Dewan Sri Maha Mariamman in Butterworth at 6pm today.

In a five-minute video released on Thursday, Zulkifli, who is also a Perkasa vice-president, ridicules statues of Hindu idols for failing to stop a flood that damaged them, and the sacred Ganges River for having animal carcasses floating about, among others.

It is unclear under what circumstances the video was recorded or edited and whether whether what Zulkifli said was taken out of context.

Thus far, Zulkifli has yet to respond to Malaysiakini ’s attempts to reach him for comment since Friday.