KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Reiterating his stand yesterday that action should be taken against the protestors in Shah Alam who brought a severed cow head to the state secretariat building, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein cited the incident in Kampung Buah Pala in Penang as an example in police fairness.
“In the past two days you can see that the police have been fair, in Kampung Buah Pala, MIC Youth members were arrested and in Perak, opposition assemblymen were arrested,” the Home Minister told reporters here today.
Hishammuddin said the issue of dragging a cow head in Shah Alam to protest the relocation of a temple transgresses racial boundaries.
He added that while the protestors may have valid concerns the actions of some of them in bringing the cow head was irresponsible and no different from the act of displaying a pig head.
“I said pig head because it has happened before,” said Hishammuddin.
Two days ago Hishammuddin defended the action of the protestors, after a meeting with them but changed his stand yesterday after he came under heavy criticism from the Pakatan Rakyat and the public.
On the proposal by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to allow a review of detention orders under the Internal Security Act he said that he was open to any suggestion.
“They can send me as many proposals as they want and I will treat Khairy's proposal the same way as I treat Perkasa's,” he said referring to the coalition of Malay organisations.
Perkasa had sent a memorandum to the Home Ministry asking the government to use the ISA against those who question the role of Islam, the status of the Malays and the Malay language.
The government is currently reviewing the law in an attempt to show its commitment to reform.
Show/Hide comments
Show/Hide comment form
