by Dr. Lim Teck Ghee
Friday, 19 July 2013
Commentary
The decision of the AG to charge Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee marks the half-way point in the public lynching of these two young people.
What were they guilty of?
A moment of unthinking madness; an act of stupidity and idiocy; a prank in bad taste; racial and religious insensitivity; youthful arrogance – yes, these criticisms and much more in the way of scorn and public shame and odium can be heaped on their foolish and misguided attempt to draw attention to themselves.
But to charge them for sedition and for a criminal act under the penal code! And then to deny them bail as if they are a major threat to public peace and order. Please!
Let us not forget that prominent politicians guilty of even more in your face racial and religious taunting have got away scot free, with the last notable racist political figure even put up as a candidate during the recent election. And what about even earlier incidents such as kris brandishing?
Come on, Malaysia!
Alvin and Vivian have already apologized for their offensive Selamat Berbuka Puasa ‘greeting’, calling it their “stupidest stunt” and reiterating that it was done in humour.
In a youtube posting available to everyone who should view it first before calling for their heads to be off, Alvin said,
“We are recording this video to ask for forgiveness for offending Muslims in this holy month of Ramadan. We sincerely regret offending religious beliefs and sensitivities in multi-cultural Malaysia,”
He also said that they had no intent to insult or ridicule the Muslim faith, nor incite racial conflict.
In most societies except the most blinkered, the authorities and public would have moved on to more important matters.
But not in Malaysia where foaming politicians and retired politicians have bayed for the young couple’s blood and are urging our ‘independent and impartial’ judiciary to impose the most serious punishment possible.
Alvin had ended the video by saying “selamat Aidilfitri dan maaf zahir batin (happy Aidilfitri and apologies for all discretions)”. He may not be genuinely repentant. But shouldn’t we give him the benefit of the doubt.
Apparently to the lynching and vigilante mob, this plea for forgiveness and compassion is not enough.
Viewing (mainly with pity and sadness) what is happening to this young couple and the innocent youth who had the words “Saya hina agama Islam” scrawled on his chest, leads me to wonder what has happened to us in this country that we can allow a few political and religious leaders, the media and our authorities to make a national controversy over a mindless stunt by two young people, blow it out of all rational proportion and act as if they are speaking on behalf of moderate Malaysians.
Alvin and Vivian invited this on themselves when they stupidly posted their crude prank. By surrendering to the lynch mob, we dishonor our core values of humanity, compassion and mercy.
Its kinda funny. I’d never have found out about this stupid stunt by Alvivi if there was no hue and cry from the chinese-bashers, and I would not have bothered to find out regardless.
Some wise man once said that if you go looking for trouble, you will find it. On the internet, there are a lot of places you can find things that don’t sit well with one’s sensitivities.
Why would one go looking for it on Alvivi’s twitter, facebook or whatever if you don’t think they matter?
So, I don’t understand our so-called leaders who make such a fuss. There are much, much worse Islamaphobic posts on the net. All our government want to do is to keep drawing clear lines between “us Malays” against “them Chinese.”
Yes. Some idiots in umno have committed sedition. And the police absolutely refused to act.
But we can effect citizen’s arrest cant we?
Shall we do it?
STOP THE MONKEY BUSINESS, UMNO!
And there is a deafening silence in Putrajaya by Najib and his Geng. Maybe they are just plain scared and confused. Maybe the administration is just out of control.
Will they come out of police custody in one piece – that is worrying!
This is the true color of a racist country.
Because the leadership at all levels and government is weak….racist and religious extremist are acting they are above the law.
They have been waiting for this opportunity to show their true color for a long time.
Now the world know how extreme, grossly misguided and intolerant Muslims, using religion/Islam, would treat two young individual for their stupid mistake which they apologised whole heartedly.
This is national disgrace and the greatest offence against the religion of peace and compassion.
Had people like Ibrahim and Zulkifli been punished earlier for sedition, Alvin Tan and Vivian would not have been in hot-soup today.
yhsiew,
Well, there is no reason why Ibrahim Ali, Zulkifli Noordin and Ridhuan Tee CANNOT be charged – even now.
After all, the insults they made are exactly the same as what the sex bloggers have done.
Can we expect PDRM to be speedy in detaining IA, ZN and RT, without bail – immediately?
Or is PDRM exercising double standards?
What we have now is a dictatorship – not by an individual but by a party… UMNO.
It rules, it controls. Now it seems the courts the police, all work for the UMNO dictator. … that is to charge any non UMNO folks under any charge and jail them.
UMNO just wants to punish anything Chinese, right Najip?
selamat datang ke malaysia…
1 negara 1 sistem untuk bumi
1 negara 1 sistem untuk bukan bumi
1 country selective prosecution
1 negara 1 sistem untuk Barisan Najis
1 negara 1 sistem untuk PR
selamatkanlah malaysia…
They can insult you with impunity but if you insult them, the action could be swift and harsh. At least this stupid maverick has apologized for his folly but do you think they will stop vilifying and punishing you for not being with them? Looks like they are not allowing the fallout of 505 to dissipate.
What a sweet couple! They were kind enough to share all, even their intimate relationships, with us. Little children should not be punished (budak sahaja!).
I am sure they will be fair to all religions. They will soon ridicule the other religions too, in truly Malaysian way.
Not that I condone their foolhardy act. But where you have some people who are more privileged than others, and where the same offence taken is viewed from a two-way mirror, the law is made to look like an @ss.
True, this young couple did a stupid stunt and deserve to be punished. But why need to throw the kitchen sink at them?
In comparison, it was just reported that the IGP has declared at a press conference that the case against Zul Nordin for insulting Hinduism has been dropped on the directive of the Attorney General’s Chamber due to “lack of evidence”.
This double standard disgusts me. Alvivi was charged and even denied bail on the basis of Internet postings. Zulkfli’s seditious statement was also all over the Internet too. And he indirectly admitted it publicly when he claimed made this seditious staement when he was still a member of PAS. PM Najib also cited this excuse when he picked Zulkifli to stand as “UMNO friendly” candidate. What more evidence does the AG need?
At first I condemn Alvin’s silly action. Was hopng that he will be taught a lesson by the court.By this,I mean a fair sentence. But, never did I know, the court denied the duo bail completely.My God, for a silly posting, they were jailed outright. My anger knew no bounds when I read it. From condemning Alvin’s act, I have now completely support him. How unfairly he is treated, There are worst … who did more things more seditious than Alvin and yer they are free to cmmit more seditious act. My question whether this AG knows his job and who really pays him? To the IGP, why are you not arresting the likes of Ibrahim Ali, Hasan Ali and Zulkifli. If both of you cannot act fairly, please do not do so.
I despised what Alvivi had done. But, the punishment meted out to them is totally out of proportion! To perceive as fair, please take similar actions to Ibrahim Ali, Zul Nordin and Dr. M. Mereka lah memang teruk berkali ganda!