Najib fails to keep police chief in check
YOURSAY ‘The home minister says it's seditious. The IGP says it’s not...’
PM ticks off protesters, issues sedition warning
Legit: PM Najib Razak is totally responsible for this whole fiasco. He has kept his silence on so many such outrageous acts committed by the extremist forces in Umno and others that they continue to do this with impunity.
He has shown no leadership in keeping in check these extremist elements among the Umno members and other groups such as Perkasa, Isma and Perkida.
As a leader and PM, he has failed miserably to keep the inspector-general of police (IGP) as well as the home minister in check so much so these two men seem to be calling the shots most of the time.
Then, of course, his elegant silence and this long delayed response to the Taman Medan crisis has caused many citizens and foreign investors to think about quitting this country. Just this one incident alone is enough reason for the PM to step aside and someone else to take the lead.
Odin: Najib, you said the anti-cross protesters could be hauled up under the Sedition Act 1948 if their action was deemed to have breached the legislation. It is not a matter of if. It is either yes or no.
You are the prime minister and have been involved in matters involving the Act; therefore, you ought to know. Grow a spine and call a spade a spade, or else head for the nearest cesspool and disappear permanently.
Odysseus: The home minister says it's seditious. The IGP says it’s not. The PM says the protesters ‘could be’ charged if it’s seditious.
Does anyone know exactly what police should do with these protestors?
FellowMalaysian: Indeed, Najib's warning to the protestors that they could be charged under the Sedition Act sounds hollow and disingenuous as he was the very person who stridently swore in front of Umno General Assembly last year that this very Act, which he had agreed to rescind as an election pledge in 2013, was later revived by him and the law was made even more harsh purportedly done as a necessary measure to quell race and religion issues among its diverse ethnicities.
Najib's government has so far charged 106 persons since January this year under this Act and they consist mostly of opposition leaders who took the government and its ministries to tasks for multi-billion ringgit losses and for indulgences in valuables and properties far beyond their means.
In short, the fortified Sedition Act has not been invoked to restrain race and religion miscreants as it was earlier set out to be. This Taman Medan 'Christian Cross' incident is an ideal case for Najib to prove his worth for vouching this Act.
Wira: Najib let 56 hours passed before commenting. He was trying to gauge how other Umno leaders react before issuing the statement.
Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali came out with a condemnation without consulting his exco because what is black can never be made white. Our PM wasn't there to show leadership when it was required of him.
Is he going to suspend the IGP until the sedition investigation is over since there is obviously a conflict of interest? After all, the police chief already announced to the whole world that the removal of the crucifix is not seditious.
Oh Ya?: Najib has finally awaken and that is good news. However, he should also chastise the IGP whose double standard is of no bounds.
If the demonstrators are oppositionists and dissidents his SOP (standard operation procedure) is to tweet his boys to arrest them at wee hours, especially on weekends, so that they can be remanded and handcuffed just to shame and punish them, never mind they may be ruled not guilty in a court of law later.
If their remand is rejected by the court, they will be slapped with new charges and remanded again. If they are Umno VVIP, red carpet will be rolled out for them, coffee is served and their cases will collect dust either in his or the attorney-general's office.
And now he is stretching his SOP to the limit. If it involves his brother or loved one, one phone call, he/she will be cleared of any charges.
Anonymous_40dc: In the first place, why set up a church in a predominantly Malay area? What is the motive? The authorities have confirmed the church has no permit.
Unafraid: Anonymous_40dc, the reason why the church exists in a predominantly Malay area is because there are also Christians living in the area who wants to worship their God.
By the same token, why set up a mosque in a predominantly Christian area in Sabah and Sarawak? The answer is that there are also Muslims residing in those areas, too.
All must be allowed to worship their god freely as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution. We must respect each other's religion.
God Helps Malaysia: Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillors have clarified that since 2008, the previous State Committee on Non-Islam Affairs (then known as State Committee on Non-Islam Places of Worship, or Ribi) has allowed churches to operate in commercial premises or offices without the need for application of permit, only by way of notification to the committee.
This is based on the principle that Article 11 of the Federal Constitution embodies freedom of worship.
Sirach: At long last, the silent one has found his tongue. Pity he chose to play dumb ( buat tak tahu ) on so many previous occasions when there was dire need for his leadership.
He chose instead the politically-expedient route. Say nothing until the sentiments of his supporters is evident. Then go with that flow.
With this support base now clearly waning, one wonders if this is a last-ditch attempt to show that he is a leader with principles. I suspect it may be too little too late.
CQ Muar: Najib, please ensure you mean business and this is not mere 'sound and fury'.
Ensure all the 50-odd protesters are rounded up and put behind bars, including the IGP's brother, Abdullah Abu Bakar. There should be no compromise to such extreme and disorderly behaviour towards other religion.
Let this be an indelible lesson to other would-be attempts to resort to such unruly show of might.
PM, when are you going to sack the IGP?
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