MP slams double standards in Johor, Terengganu flag gaffes
Lim Lip Eng questions the lack of action in the case involving the Kuala Terengganu council, comparing it with the arrest of two people in the Johor factory incident
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said the police cannot come down hard on regular Malaysians but stay quiet when negligence involves government bodies.
PETALING JAYA: A DAP MP has slammed the police for purportedly having double standards in its action on two flag gaffes involving a factory in Johor and the Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT).
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said the cops arrested a Nepali security guard and a Malaysian woman and remanded them for four days because the Malaysian and Johor flags were installed upside down at the Johor factory.
On the other hand, he said, no arrests were made over MBKT flying a Jalur Gemilang that was missing the moon and star, which the local council had attributed to a “technical mistake”
“The flag was just replaced and no arrests were made. This clearly raises the question of double standards. Why are ordinary people immediately arrested while government bodies only have to offer an explanation?
“If the security guard at the Johor factory was arrested over immigration offences, why was the Malaysian woman also remanded?
“Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail must answer based on legal facts. The police cannot come down hard on regular Malaysians but stay quiet when negligence involves government bodies,” the Kuala Lumpur DAP secretary said in a statement.
In the Johor case, police said the Nepali security guard was believed to have installed the flags upside down after the woman handed them to him and instructed him to put them up.
The case is being probed for the improper use of official emblems, minor offences, public mischief, misuse of communications networks and immigration offences. The factory was also temporarily closed by the Kulai municipal council.
Meanwhile, the case in Terengganu was played down by menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as an unintentional and isolated incident, though he said an investigation would be held.
Kuala Terengganu mayor Lizan Che Mat meanwhile said the flag had in fact been complete, but the stitching holding the moon and star had come undone in strong winds.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said the cops arrested a Nepali security guard and a Malaysian woman and remanded them for four days because the Malaysian and Johor flags were installed upside down at the Johor factory.
On the other hand, he said, no arrests were made over MBKT flying a Jalur Gemilang that was missing the moon and star, which the local council had attributed to a “technical mistake”
“The flag was just replaced and no arrests were made. This clearly raises the question of double standards. Why are ordinary people immediately arrested while government bodies only have to offer an explanation?
“If the security guard at the Johor factory was arrested over immigration offences, why was the Malaysian woman also remanded?
“Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail must answer based on legal facts. The police cannot come down hard on regular Malaysians but stay quiet when negligence involves government bodies,” the Kuala Lumpur DAP secretary said in a statement.
In the Johor case, police said the Nepali security guard was believed to have installed the flags upside down after the woman handed them to him and instructed him to put them up.
The case is being probed for the improper use of official emblems, minor offences, public mischief, misuse of communications networks and immigration offences. The factory was also temporarily closed by the Kulai municipal council.
Meanwhile, the case in Terengganu was played down by menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar as an unintentional and isolated incident, though he said an investigation would be held.
Kuala Terengganu mayor Lizan Che Mat meanwhile said the flag had in fact been complete, but the stitching holding the moon and star had come undone in strong winds.
The difference in official handling is stark.
ReplyDeleteIn Terengganu, no less than the Kuala Terengganu Mayor explained away why no it was just a harmless unintentional error. No one need.to be punished.
In Johor, the factory was ordered shut by the Local Council and the owner faces criminal charges.
You don't need any IQ above 80 to understand there are two different standards at work here.
for just an error in hoisting the flag, the police remanded the factory manager for 4 days - why 4 days???
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