A coalition of 35 civil society NGOs have jointly issued a statement condemning Penang Umno for acting like samseng (gangsters) to arm-twist the kangkung flash mob incident into a racial issue.

They referred to the tit-for-tat violence that resulted last Sunday when Penang Umno and its allies held a second rally to retaliate against Machang Bubok state assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon, who protested against the recent price hikes plaguing the country by stuffing about 10 kilos of the leafy green kangkung into the gaping mouth of a replica of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made from styrofoam.

“When false racial issues are raised to break up the races, along with threats of murder and violence, this diverts the focus away from economic issues. The people’s suffering takes a backseat to the ruling party’s ‘samseng’ politics,” the NGOS said.

Those who signed the statement included Suaram, Jihad for Justice, Malaysians for Beng Hock and KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall youths.

The group also urged Umno president and PM Najib to make a stand. It said Najib’s silence in the face of threat of racial violence last weekend showed that the government was unkind to criticism. This ran counter to Najib’s promises to transform the government and economy and his “people first” slogan, they said.

“We wish to advise Umno and the BN government that racial politics were first defeated in the 12 general elections (GE) and also in the 13th GE. This shows that the people as a whole have rejected racism and demands democracy and a just society.

“If Umno continues to manipulate racial issues and distances itself from public demands as well as global trends, surely the people will judge properly towards ‘samseng’ politics and Umno racism in the next general election,” it said.

For the sake of maturing democracy, the NGOs suggest that instead of demonstrations, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) should organise an open debate between Penang Umno’s Reezal Merican and Lee, on the issue of price hikes in various goods and services.