Minister wants DAP rep charged with sedition for insulting Umno, Malays

While pressure is mounting on the government to repeal the Sedition Act, a minister in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's Cabinet is calling on the Attorney-General to prosecute a Penang assemblyman under the law for insulting Umno.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (pic) wants Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, who is also the public prosecutor, to frame charges against DAP's Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer for using the derogatory word "Umno celaka" during the state assembly proceedings.

Shahidan said Rayer's act was not only against the law but was also an insult to Malays in general.

"Even if he withdraws the remark, that is not the end of the issue. The public prosecutor must investigate the matter under the Sedition Act," he told The Malaysian Insider today.

The Malaysian Insider on Wednesday reported that lawyers and former Attorney-General Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman had pointed out that there were other laws that could be used against those who uses race and religion to create public animosity.

They said the Sedition Act was selectively used against opposition leaders and those against the establishment.

Shahidan also took a swipe at the assembly Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang who failed to function effectively and let the matter get out of hand.

"This should not have happened and the party in power, whether BN or the oppostion, must appoint a Speaker who is impartial," he said.

Rayer made the “Umno celaka” remark on Tuesday when he cited an incident at a rally in Seberang Jaya on January 18, where demonstrators held a banner which read “Because of DAP leaders’ mouth, May 13, 1969 happened... Want some more?”.

The rally was organised by Malay non-governmental organisations that were unhappy with Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon for his "I love Kangkung" flashmob several days earlier.

The flashmob saw an effigy of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak being "fed" with kangkung (water spinach), a gesture that made fun of the leader's earlier remark that the price of the vegetable had gone down.

Shahidan, who is also in charge of Parliamentary affairs, said in the Federal legislature the Speaker was fair and acted swiftly against those who were unruly in their behaviour.

Meanwhile Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had challenged Rayer to repeat what he had uttered in the presence of his party members.

"If Rayer is not a coward, I challenge him to repeat the insulting word in front of Umno members,” he said in a statement.

Khairy ,who is Youth and Sport Minister said the DAP assemblyman abused his immunity to look down on Umno and members because he knew no action would be taken.

"His action as assemblyman was rash and abrasive and the people will evaluate his integrity," he said.

Khairy said Rayer was arrogant and had yet to express remorse for what he uttered in the state assembly.

He said he fully supported the action by Penang Umno Youth who demonstrated to show their displeasure against the assemblyman.

However, the youth chief also warned his party members that their actions must be within the bounds of the law.

"I am not agreeable to party members who stormed the legislative assembly building and cause public disorder," he said.

Yesterday afternoon a group of 30 stormed the Penang legislative assembly building demanding to see Rayer.

They made it into the house, disrupted the sitting but were escorted out 10 minutes later.

This afternoon another group of about 50 Umno youth members from Federal Territory gathered outside the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur where they threatened to torch the building if another incident like what had happened at the Penang state assembly recurs. – May 22, 2014.