A Hong Kong lawmaker has mocked Putrajaya, calling it an insecure regime for deporting fellow citizen and popular activist Joshua Wong.

 

Hong Kong Legislative Council member for New Territories East Leung Kwok-Hung ( photo ) was responding to inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar who stated Wong was deported over concerns that his speeches here may threaten the country's security.

 

"If a few words by someone can threaten national security, he or she is either a terrorist or their arguments have the impact of a nuclear bomb," Leung sarcastically said in a Facebook posting Wednesday after posting a news report about Khalid's statement.

 

Leung, who is prominently known as 'Long Hair' for his trademark silver mane, is a vocal lawmaker who has consistently criticised China for attempting to stifle democracy in Hong Kong.

 

The Hong Kong lawmaker also rapped the Malaysian government for being insecure.

 

"A state which uses high-handed methods to control people, its national security is always fragile. Or should I say, the regime's security is always fragile," said Leung.

 

On Monday, Malaysian immigration authorities detained Wong on arrival at the Penang International Airport and deported him an hour later.

 

On the back of the Western anti-inequality 'Occupy' movement, the 18-year-old Wong had in June last year led a peaceful mass student demonstration demanding for genuine elections in the former British colony.

 

China had promised Hong Kong the right to vote for their chief executive by 2017 but later said they could only vote from a list of individuals hand-picked by Beijing.

 

The uprising which rapidly spread through wider Hong Kong and later became known as the Umbrella Revolution, demanded for direct elections without candidates having to go through vetting by Beijing.

 

Deportation for Leung too?

 

Leung is scheduled to speak together with Wong at a pro-democracy forum in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

 

The event is part of a series of talks on democracy and student activism that Wong was to attend in Malaysia this week.

 

Wong's deportation has raised concerns that Leung may suffer the same fate when he arrives in Malaysia tomorrow.

 

Leung, however, said he is unperturbed by possible deportation, adding the Chinese government should get Putrajaya's assurance for his entry as he is a lawmaker.

 

Meanwhile Wong ( photo ), via a Skype press conference yesterday, slammed Khalid for saying he could jeopardise Malaysia's ties with Beijing.

 

"If a mere student entering Malaysia can make China upset, then China is either very petty or Putrajaya does not have a (genuinely) good relationship with Beijing.

 

"The Malaysian government should reflect on this," he said.

 

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang, when asked about Wong's deportation, pleaded ignorance saying he was unclear about the incident.

 

Huang, who was visiting the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, was then ushered away by Parliament security personnel.

 

Following the deportation, Putrajaya has faced criticism , including from the opposition, for bowing to Beijing's pressure.

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