Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been criticised for saying that his hands were tied in relation to the actions of Perkasa members who tore down a Christmas and New Year greeting banner at the Perak DAP headquarters.

Canning state assemblyperson Wong Kah Woh said Ahmad Zahid had failed to act against the Perkasa members when he said his hands were tied unless Perak DAP or any other concerned party lodges a police report.

“His statement is extremely contradictory. Plain clothes police and Special Branch officers were present at the scene and witnessed what happened,” said Wong in a statement today.

“The police have not only failed to prevent it from happening but Ahmad Zahid ( right ) is now saying that his hands are tied due to the fact that no report has been lodged.

“His statement serves as a slap to his own face,” he said.

Wong pointed out how the police had, on many occasions, lodged their own police report and initiated investigations.

The police, in December 2009, had lodged a report against DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng over a statement made by him on Teoh Beng Hock’s death.

Meanwhile, according to the Free Malaysia Today article Wong had cited, Ahmad Zahid had also suggested that the DAP file a civil suit against the alleged culprit.  

Wong however said his recommendation was “ridiculous”.

“Is Ahmad Zahid telling us, even before any investigation has commenced, that the culprit will be freed from any criminal liabilities or a conclusion of ‘no further action’ is already made?”

During the incident on Friday, a protester had even attempted to pull Tebing Tinggi state assemblyperson Ong Boon Piow out of the Perak DAP office.

As Ong will lodge a police report on the incident tomorrow, Wong said Ahmad Zahid no longer had any reason not to take action against the culprit.

‘Zahid telling the obvious’

Meanwhile, Perak DAP economic development bureau chief Chong Zhemin said Ahmad Zahid was telling the obvious when he said it was wrong for the Perkasa member to rip a Christmas banner.

“What Malaysians want to know is why is there no action taken by the police after more than 48 hours of the incident?

“Would he issue the same reprimand without action should a non-Muslim rip a Hari Raya banner in front of the Umno headquarters?

“I have no doubt that if the opposite happens, the culprit would be arrested immediately on the spot,” he said.

Chong then questioned whether Ahmad Zahid could walk the talk by instructing inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar to immediately arrest the culprit who had ripped the banner.

“Perak DAP chairperson Nga Kor Ming has already sent the video recordings and photos of the incident to acting Perak police chief A Paramasivam and Ipoh police chief Sum Chang Keong last Friday.

“With strong and sufficient evidence, there is absolutely no excuse for the police’s inaction against the culprits who have violated the law,” he said.

Zahid, don't just blow hot air through newspapers