A-G: Cow head protesters to be charged

The Sun
by Charles Ramendran, Hemananthani Sivanandam & Eva Yeong

PETALING JAYA (Sept 7, 2009): Those who brought a cow's head to protest against the relocation of a Hindu temple will be charged with sedition and participating in an illegal assembly, Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail announced today.

"Those who carried (the cow head) and spoke while stepping on the cow head will be charged under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act and alternatively Section 298 of the Penal Code.

"They, as well as the other demonstrators will also be facing another charge under Section 27 (5) of the Police Act for illegal assembly," said Abdul Gani.

He said (Selangor) police submitted the investigation papers on the protest by Section 23, Shah Alam, residents to him in the afternoon. "I am satisfied based on the facts and evidence gathered by police that the demonstrators should be taken to court and I have decided (to prosecute)," he said in a statement issued late this evening.

If convicted under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act, the offenders can be fined up to RM5,000 or be sentenced to jail for up to three years or both for the first offence.

If found guilty under Section 298 of the Penal Code, offenders face a maximum six months' jail or a fine of RM2,000.

Those found guilty under Section 27(5) of the Police Act 1967 can be fined between RM2,000 and RM10,000 as well as be jailed for up to a year.

On Aug 28, after prayers, a group of about 50 protesters, claiming to be Section 23, Shah Alam, residents, marched to the Selangor state secretariat building to protest the relocation of a 150 year-old Hindu temple from Section 19 to their neighbourhood.

The group also dragged a cow's head, stomped and spat on it. The cow is considered sacred to Hindus.

Reports and video recordings of the protest involving the cow's head ignited a storm of protest from various sections of society.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abul Razak immediately ordered the police to take action against the group. Politicians, including from the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat, community leaders and religious authorities condemned the protesters for being disrespectful and insensitive towards the other races in the country.

The protesters, during a meeting with Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said they did not mean to insult Hindus but said the cow head was symbolic of the Selangor government's stupidy.
A number of police reports has also been lodged against the protesters.