Posted on by Kit

Men in blue pounce on MP in yellow

By G Vinod
July 15, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: DAP MP Er Teck Hwa landed in trouble when he wore the banned Bersih 2.0 yellow T-shirt on his way to a memorial service for the late Teoh Beng Hock yesterday.

Relating the incident, the Bakri MP’s aide Liew Choan Chee said some 50 people gathered at Wisma DAP in Muar, Johor, for the service at 8pm.

There was a FRU truck and several policemen stationed nearby.

“We were supposed to march to Er’s service centre which is about 300 yards from the DAP building. When we started walking, several police officers stopped our procession,” said Liew.

He added that a police officer, identified only as Bala, ordered Er to remove the T-shirt and warned the group that it was an illegal gathering.

Refusing, Er then argued his case with the officer who eventually relented when the MP agreed to wear a red T-shirt bearing a Chinese character which meant “Change” on top of the yellow T-shirt.

The procession was then allowed to continue until they reached a road where a patrol car stopped them.

Liew said several police officers then forced Er to remove his Bersih 2.0 T-shirt on the spot.

“Er grew irritated and started shouting at the officers. A commotion ensued, and the police told him to follow them to the Muar district police headquarters,” he added.

The police, Liew said, refused to tell Er whether he was under arrest.

The aide added that his boss then told the police that he would come to the police headquarters in his own car. Er was later released after his statement was recorded.

Commenting on the incident, DAP’s Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua said the police should concentrate on eradicating crime instead of being overzealous in their clampdown on Bersih 2.0.

Calling it ridiculous, Pua said the country had become a laughing stock among the international community for its fear of yellow.

“Er was arrested despite wearing the Bersih T-shirt under another shirt. So even if someone was wearing a yellow underwear, the police will arrest them,” he added.

13 Replies to “Men in blue pounce on MP in yellow”

  4. “police used baton charges, water cannon and teargas to break up peaceful protests”

    “This violent repression … flies in the face of international human rights standards and cannot be allowed to continue. David Cameron should tell Prime Minister Najib that these human rights violations are unacceptable,” Amnesty International

    “the Malaysian government is “gormless””

  6. Rukunegara has a 6th principle added by umno–

    1.Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan
    2.Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara
    3.Keluhuran Perlembagaan
    4.Kedaulatan Undang-undang
    5.Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan
    6.Pelarangan memakai warna kuning

  7. Don’t know whether intentional or not, but its a diplomatic Faux Pas for the Queen to wear yellow to greet PM fresh from Bersih’s Faux Pas handling ! To be sure she wore the same colour for her grandson’s royal wedding.

    Here the practice is for her private secretaries to brief her thoroughly and make detailed arrangements on everything about and relating to a visiting dignitary including what to talk or not talk (due to sensitivity). Even the flowers in the vase (subject to frequent change were yellow). It is strange as yellow has assumed somewhat of symbolic colour for Bersih cause here. And even in UK where the protests were held in London, surely they know about what the colour stands for and at this moment politically sensitive. In any case it may be speculated by some that the Queen representing UK may be giving an oblique signal that they support the Bersih’s cause. Whether that support is true or not is not the point. The fact that it may be so construed by some is.

    It is like saying that if the Queen wore yellow and the flowers in the vase were yellow due to coincidence – without any hidden meaning – then the protocol secretaries briefing the Queen and making arrangement/details of the meeting and the photoshoots must be oblivious of current events in Malaysia and really sleeping, which is also unlikely. The bigger picture is clearer depending on whether British media report anything of what Cameron might comment on Bersih as regards UK’s position.

  10. Mr Er is a MP elected by the people of Bakri, got it Police? Under which law has he violated? Why you fellows are so bodoh is simply beyond the comprehension of many. Be professional lah.

  12. Queen of England wore full yellow dress in support of BERSIH 2 walkers.
    This old Queen is witty and intelligent.
    Long live….Queen of England!!
    Short rule….PM of Malaysia!!

  13. Why don’t our Men in blue pounce on the Queen of England who was also similarly dressed in yellow too. Then only I will come out to Najib and all our Men in blue to salute you guys and say you got bola.

Leave a Reply