Attacks on Karpal unacceptable, say ministers

 

DAP leaders paying their last respect to late Karpal Singh at his house in Jalan Utama, Penang, today. A Barisan Nasional MP has posted pictures of the veteran politician's blood-smeared face online. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, April 13, 2014.

Two ministers have spoken out against the attacks on Karpal Singh and dissemination of gory pictures of the accident involving the late DAP chairman and Bukit Gelugor MP.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said he was disappointed with a Barisan Nasional MP and a former Perkasa vice-president who both made insensitive statements about Karpal’s death.

“I cannot accept statements such as these. It is very sad to see someone utter that sort of thing,” Kurup told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

“You want to have political mileage, do not exploit the sad situation, and do not use religion.

“If you going to say something to make things even worse, better not say anything,” he reportedly said.

Former Perkasa vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin had, within hours of Karpal's death yesterday, tweeted that Allah had killed off Karpal who had rejected the implementation of hudud in the country.

BN's Langkawi MP Datuk Nawawi Ahmad had insulted Karpal by posting a picture of the veteran politician's blood-smeared face as he lay in his Toyota Alphard following the accident yesterday morning.

Along with the Facebook picture was a newspaper cutting on Karpal’s opposition to the implementation of hudud in the country.

Nawawi had also posted a comment which read: "Siapa nak sambut cabaran karpal singh? Sila bagi nama he he." (Who wants to challenge Karpal Singh? Please submit your name.)

He was referring to the newspaper article which quoted Karpal as saying: "Mahu wujudkan negara Islam langkah mayat kami dulu – Karpal Singh." (Those who want to create an Islamic state can only do so over my dead body – Karpal Singh.)

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek also said social media practitioners should cease spreading Nawawi’s pictures as they were extreme and uncivilised acts.

Expressing sadness and disappointment over the development of this undesirable culture, he said these acts were unethical.

"I was saddened when I saw pictures of corpses disseminated on social media. It is unethical and uncivilised to display these for viewing," he told reporters after visiting Paloh assemblyman Datuk Norzula Mat Diah of Kelantan who is under treatment at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh, Bernama reports.

Ahmad Shabery said the people should understand the feelings of the families of the dead because accidents could happen to anyone, even themselves.

"I see that social media practitioners have gone overboard. They should adhere to (journalistic) ethics so that such good habits will help to nurture a good culture in society," he was quoted saying by Bernama.

Ahmad Shabery said legislation would check extreme acts, but laws also had limitations.

"We seem to be too hungry for freedom, but we do not know how to appreciate that freedom.

“We abuse the freedom that we have and, in doing so, we show that we are uncivilised. This is not condoned in Islam and other religions," he said. – April 18, 2014.