Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
KAJANG: Why should police investigate the Muslim NGOs who offered a cash reward for anyone who could slap Seputeh MP Teresa Kok? It wasn’t a threat, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“If they issued a death threat, then it would be a threat. Slapping is not,” Zahid told reporters after a forum at the Kajang prison Saturday morning.
When asked if he thought the accusations made by the NGOs, that Kok’s controversial Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014 video had fanned racial hatred Dr. Zahid opted not to comment but stressed that the NGOs are being investigated.
“They are being investigated, so we should leave it to the investigation,” he confirmed.
Zahid added that an investigation had been initiated against Kok for her controversial Chinese New Year video, with over 300 police reports being lodged against her.
“It is being handled by the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC),” he said.
On Friday, Kok had lodged a police report against the group of supposed Muslim NGOs, which had offered a RM500 reward to anyone who could slap her. The amount was later raised to RM1,200.
The group, had on Thursday also slammed “chauvinistic leaders” who were using current issues to fan hatred against them.
The protesters then slaughtered chickens and smeared their blood on a poster with the faces of Kok, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Machang Bubuk MP Lee Khai Loon on them.
Their actions had sparked outrage among Muslim and non-Muslims who accused the NGOs of trying to incite hatred among the races and violence against an elected representative.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin says that he is against the extreme action of the supposed Muslim NGOs.
“As much as I think that the video was done in bad taste and should not have been even recorded by her, the offer by the groups is extreme and cannot be accept," Khairy said after launching the National Aspiration and Leadership Symposium in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
Although there are quarters who are against the video, Khairy said there was no justification for the groups to behave in such an uncivilised, uncultured and unIslamic manner.
“There are some people who are mad at her but not until we become uncivilised as it is also unIslamic and against Malay custom.
“We have to be restrained in our response,” Khairy said.
He cited the approach taken by Wilayah Persekutuan Umno Youth in lodging a report as a way of showing they were against the video.
Khairy added that the police and AG must explain the outcome of investigations and decide if the video is seditious.
“If there is no explanation, the issue will only be prolonged,” he said, adding that focus should be on nation building rather than the incident being politicised.
