two sets of laws

just want to highlight a column by KJ john from malaysiakini. very good article. read it in full at malaysiakini but if you are not a subscriber read it in beritamalaysia.

Let’s take a look at public gatherings. The law dictates that any group of more than a certain number needs a police permit to organise a public event. If you do not have a permit and break the law, adequate punishment shouldfollow, regardless of who you are.

There were two clear exceptions to this rule recently, and both were “tolerated by the police force.” Both involved protests against another unpopular but legal gathering for a private but open meeting regarding Article 11 and the freedom of religion in Malaysia. But, not so long ago, another protest at the KLCC against the rise of the price of petrol and
electricity were brutally stopped with blood being spilled. It was called an illegal gathering. That matter is now being investigated by Suhakam.

Action at public forums

But why the double standards in enforcement of the same rule of the law by the same “uniformed” police force? Why is it in the Penang and again in the Johore case, the legal ones were told to break up while the illegal protesters were allowed free rein? Why do we tolerate such mob rule? Now, the disease has spread to the university. Is it because the protesters were all Malays and the police were also all Malays? Was that not the case in UPM also? In the KLCC case, were not the majority non-Malays? What is it that the KLCC protesters did that was such a threat to national security that they must be clamped down, but not so in Penang or Johore? Are our enforcement people colour blind?

in the meantime, have your heard that on 30 july a forum by DAP was not able to be held at the last moment because permission to use the venue was cancelled? yes, read about it here, and also read about in a strange way (er… no, not strange actually but as expected!) for the anti-israel protest, the police offered permit to the protestors! can you believe that? (offered, mind you, offered, not that the organisers requested for it). i wonder will the police offer or allowed permit upon request if there is an anti-arab protest? KJ john will have the answer.