The racially charged campaign billboards that the DAP
put up in Sungai Besar are merely highlighting the “hypocrisy” of Barisan Nasional
(BN) and the authorities, Tony Pua said today.
The Selangor DAP chief recalled that no action was taken
against Sungai Besar Umno leader Datuk Jamal Md Yunos when he defended a man
who called a reporter “Cina gila babi” (crazy Chinese pig) at the #Merah169
rally last year, but the authorities were quick to jump at the billboards that
highlighted Jamal’s statement.
“The billboards merely exposed Umno and BN’s hypocrisy. When Jamal made the statement which was
widely reported by all media, no action was taken against him.
“However, when we highlight what he said during the
by-election to demonstrate their racist nature, they are all up in arms,” Pua
told Malay Mail Online today.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar
said yesterday that the authorities would take action against those who had put
up the allegedly provocative billboards during campaigning for the by-election
in the Selangor federal constituency.
Jamal had organised the #Merah169 protest, also known as the
Red Shirt Rally, on September 16 last year at Chinatown, Petaling Street,
purportedly to uphold so-called Malay dignity, that saw a protester calling an
ethnic Chinese reporter “Cina gila babi”.
Jamal, however, had downplayed the racist insult and said
the Chinese should not be slighted since they consume pork.
The police called the Umno leader in for questioning and he
was detained for a day, but no charges were pressed against him or against the
man who made the insult.
Pua said the billboards were part of Pakatan Harapan’s
campaign to ensure that Sungai Besar constituents do not vote for Umno. BN
candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi is from the Malay ruling party.
“We are asking people not to support Umno, who supported
Jamal because they are racist. Are we
wrong to play the anti-racism card?
“It appears now that trying to play the anti-racism card is
racist in nature. Have Malaysians been cowed by Umno’s thuggery?,” the Petaling
Jaya Utara MP questioned.
Pua also questioned Sungai Besar MCA’s so-called “hypocrisy”
in the billboard issue.
“MCA Sungai Besar had issued a statement during the “Cina
Babi” controversy that they will boycott Jamal. However, today, they are seen
stoutly defending Jamal and Umno. What
do we make of this?” he said.
The billboards that linked Jamal to the statement “Panggil
Cina babi tidak salah (Not wrong to call the Chinese pigs)” and another that
said: “BN PAS sehati sejiwa, rasis rasuah sama sekali (BN and PAS are of one
soul, together in racism and corruption)” asked voters to choose Parti Amanah
Negara (Amanah).
Election Commission (EC) officers removed the posters after
an uproar.
Source –Malay Mail Online-
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