Shut down their accounts, arrest those insulted Hindus – MCA

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22: Shut down all the accounts of social media users, that allegedly posted racial remarks against the Hindus and Thaipusam and take stern actions against them, with immediate effect, says MCA.

MCA vice president Datuk Chua Tee Yong told The Malaysian Times (TMT) that “Everyone can have their own opinion but discriminating other religions’ practice shouldn’t be tolerated.

“Social media post can go anonymously basis. The culprits have to be tracked down.

“The authorities should notify the Facebook to close down their accounts.

Chua said that there are no necessity to downgrade other religions’ culture as every race in the country has their rights to practice their respective beliefs.

“I hope Malaysia as a multiracial country practice respect and tolerate each other’s religions.

“Religions teach us to respect each other, not to discriminate,” he stressed.

He urged the police to investigate the matter and take actions accordingly without any delay.

Chua was commenting on the recent racial remarks by several users on the Hindus celebrating Thaipusam at Batu Caves, last Friday.

The posted comments have been circulating the social media and triggered the annoyance of the netizens, especially the Indian community.

Meanwhile, Hindraf National Adviser N. Ganesan slammed the act of several individuals that insulted the Hindus and called upon the police and Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to take stern actions on the matter.

“It was an undesirable element wanting to create problem among the Indians.

“It was a trouble causing act,” Ganesan told TMT.

Ganesan said that the police must be concern and take stern action on those who posted the remarks with the intention of creating unnecessary problems.

“To stop this, the authorities must react immediately like how it reacted to similar incidents in the past,” he stressed.

NO ACTIONS YET

Malaysian Indian Education Transformation Association (MIETA) chairman A. Elangovan, who had also made a police report on the matter, said that no actions have been taken by the authorities.

“This is very disappointing when no actions are taken by the police.

“As a democratic country, all religions sensitivity has to be taken seriously without fear and favour,” he stressed.

He told TMT that, “The government has to give serious attention to those allegedly insulted the Hindus like how they reacted towards J. Gopinath and Alvivi couples.

In September 2012, Gopinath was arrested by the police for allegedly insulted Islam on his Facebook page.

He was probed under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act and Section 298 (a) of the Penal Code for making statements that offended the religious sentiments.

While, The Alvivi pair, Alvin Tan Jye Yee and Vivian Lee May Ling, was charged at court despite their action of posting a message ridiculing Ramadan and pornographic images on their blog.

Tan, 25, and Lee, 24, came under fire making a seditious posting on their Facebook page by uploading a photo of themselves eating bak kut teh (a pork dish) with the greeting Selamat Berbuka Puasa with bak kut teh (fragrant, delicious and appetising) together with the halal logo.

Elangovan said “Actions were taken instantly in both cases. I believe the authorities has the capability to take similar actions to those disrespected the Indian community.”

HUNDREDS OF POLICE REPORTS

TMT learnt that hundreds of police report have been lodged by public, NGOs and the MIC, nationwide, on the alleged social media users.

Among those who posted such remarks were Facebook users named Man Namblast posted “berpuluh ribu syaitan sedangberarak menaiki tangga bt caves” (tens of thousands of demons are marching up the stairs at Batu Caves).

While, another user, named Mohamed Hidayat posted, “Penyembahan iblis, syaitan dan berhala secara besar-besaran sedang berlangsung, kemudian mendapat liputan meluas media massa tempatan danantarabangsa.

Meanwhile, the traffic congestion around Batu Caves, on Thaipusam, area was believed to be the cause behind several wild racial remarks in Twitter. -TMT