Umno Youth Federal Territories chief Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii has accused authorities of "selective prosecution" for not taking action against a Facebook user who had criticised the load volume of a mosque’s morning prayers.

 

He said the road bully Siti Fairrah Ashyikin Kamaruddin was swiftly investigated, charged and sentenced without even a police report being lodged against her.

 

Similarly, Islamic preacher Ustaz Shahul Hamid was quickly investigated after he allegedly made racist remarks, he said.

 

In contrast however, Razlan said the Facebook user Kelvin Yip is still at large after seven days, although his Facebook posting criticising the volume of a mosque’s loudspeakers had gone viral on the Internet, just like Siti Fairrah’s and Shahul’s actions.

"What's so special about Kelvin Yip (that he is let off) compared to Kiki and Ustaz Shahul?" he said.

 

“Everyone at the grassroots level have complained to me, and friends why the authorities are so ‘phobic’ of issues involving Malays against Chinese, but do not feel threatened at all if the Chinese insults Islam or the Malays.

 

“Many think that it is perhaps because the Chinese would take legal action against the authorities, whereas if it happens to a Malay, they would not take it seriously from the legal point of view,” he said in a statement yesterday.

 

Previously Siti Fairrah, better known by her moniker Kiki, was fined RM5,000 and ordered to do 240 hours of community service for hitting the car of Sim Hiak Hong, with a steering lock.

 

She gained notoriety after a video of her hitting Sim’s car and verbally abusing him after an accident was widely distributed through social media.

 

Meanwhile, Shahul had his share of online infamy after a video of him urging Muslims not the buy curry powder from what he deemed “Hindu” companies, such as Alagappa's and Baba's.

 

He is currently being investigated under the Sedition Act.

 

Road rage racial issue?

On Friday, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar was first to draw blood, complaining that Yip should be charged like Kiki had been, despite the youth deleting his allegedly offensive post and apologising.

 

“Kiki apologised but still was charged, and rightly so. This (the Facebook user) also deserves to be charged, to be taught a lesson once and for all.

 

“Act strict and fast towards anyone guilty without considering their race,” he said.

 

However, PKR deputy youth chief candidate Afif Bahardin criticised Khairy for racialising two complete different issues - one of violence and another of intolerance.

 

“Road bullies or those who commit violence must be charged, no matter who does it, which race or religion he or she belongs to.

 

“The Facebooker who criticised the sound volume of prayers is an example of intolerance, which we can find on both sides, in every community,” he said.

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