Rights group want police protection for Teresa Kok after threat by protesters

A human rights body has slammed yesterday's open threat to DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok by members of a Muslim group as a clear act of inciting hate and violence.

The Association for the Promotion of Human Rights, or Proham, said the incident in Jalan Pudu, where chickens were slaughtered and a RM1200 reward offered to anyone who could slap Kok, had gone beyond democratic violence and was clearly against the law.

"It is an irony that during this Global Harmony Week, a group calling themselves the Council of Muslim NGOs have slaughtered chickens, taken part in a blood smearing ritual, and also made reference to the May 13 riots of 1969," Proham said in statement signed by Datuk Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari and Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria.

 

It urged the Home Ministry, police and the Attorney General's Chambers to take immediate action, while calling for police protection to Kok.

 

PKR politician Zuraida Kamaruddin said the protesters did not represent the Muslim community and the ‘offer’ of the reward for slapping Kok was un-Islamic.

"They are giving Islam a bad name and the reward offer is alarming and disturbing.

"I strongly urge them to withdraw the  offer to commit violence and apologise to all Muslims for the misinterpretation of Islam," said Zuraida, the Ampang MP and PKR's women chief.

Some 50 members of the Muslim group caused a stir in Jalan Pudu when they slaughtered two chickens and offered a RM1,200 reward to anyone who dared to slap Kok, to show anger towards opposition leaders who they accused of insulting the Malay leadership and Islam.

They then smeared the blood of the slaughtered chickens on a banner featuring photographs of Kok, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Machang Bubuk PKR assemblyman Lee Khai Loon, who led a protest poking fun at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the latter's now famous "kangkung" statement.

They then stomped on the banner, which also contained reference to the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
The focus of the group, which called itself the Council of Islamic NGOs, was Kok and her recent Chinese New Year greeting video, "Onederful" Malaysia CNY 2014, which angered several Cabinet members and pro-Umno groups who claimed it was seditious.

The groups making up the Council of Islamic NGOs are Pertubuhan Permuafakatan Majlis Ayahanda Malaysia (Permas), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Islam dan Dakwah (Pekida), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Insan Bakti Malaysia (Perkib), Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia (PPIM) and Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM).

Zuraida called for action against the protesters for inciting hatred and for threatening peace.
"No proper Muslim will encourage violence in the name of Islam as Islam is a religion of peace," she added. – February 7, 2014.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rights-group-want-police-protection-for-teresa-kok-after-threat-by-proteste