As cops nab Anwar effigy caners, Najib's 'kangkung in mouth' recalled
Published: Jul 30, 2025 4:00 PM
Updated: 6:10 PM
Summary
- Pejuang resurrects a protest from 2014, where demonstrators stuffed “kangkung” into the mouth of a replica of then PM Najib.
- This follows police arrests of protesters who allegedly flogged an effigy of Anwar in Saturday’s rally.
Pejuang dug out a protest from over a decade ago, where demonstrators stuffed “kangkung” (water spinach) into the mouth of a replica of then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak - an act that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim defended at the time.
This referred to a 2014 flash mob, which infuriated Umno leaders, led by PKR’s Machang Bubuk assemblyperson Lee Khai Loon, where “kangkung” was used as a symbol to protest rising living costs.
It was an issue that also formed a central theme in the “Turun Anwar” demonstration.
Najib had thrust the humble vegetable into the limelight when he complained that the federal government had never been praised when the price of goods dropped, citing the kangkung as an example.
“Can PMX (Anwar) or the government not be criticised at all? The moment PMX became prime minister, were all democratic rights to criticism wiped out?” asked Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali.
“Were we only allowed to criticise previous prime ministers, but PMX is immune?” he added in a Facebook post.
Bersatu division chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin holding a cane during the ‘Turun Anwar’ rally
He also alluded to Anwar being accused of burning a book by the nation’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman when he was a student activist in 1970.
Over-the-top police action
Rafique further criticised the police for their over-the-top response in detaining those who flogged Anwar’s effigy during Saturday’s protest, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“No issue with the police conducting investigations - go ahead. But there is no need to send a dozen officers to surround the homes of participants just to arrest them. The demonstrators are Malaysians. They are neither terrorists nor hardened criminals.
“Arrests are unnecessary. It’s a waste of time and public funds. A waste of judicial resources having to force magistrates to hear remand requests,” he added.
Denouncing the use of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 - laws Anwar and Pakatan Harapan had once pledged to repeal - the Pejuang leader accused the Madani administration of blatant hypocrisy.
“So far, there have been four arrests. It is said that more are expected.
“The height of hypocrisy lies in the use of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. All those arrested or detained are being investigated under these provisions.
“Didn’t they once promise to abolish these draconian laws? Now not only are they not repealed - they are used against critics of PMX and/or the government,” he added.
He also alluded to Anwar being accused of burning a book by the nation’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman when he was a student activist in 1970.
Over-the-top police action
Rafique further criticised the police for their over-the-top response in detaining those who flogged Anwar’s effigy during Saturday’s protest, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“No issue with the police conducting investigations - go ahead. But there is no need to send a dozen officers to surround the homes of participants just to arrest them. The demonstrators are Malaysians. They are neither terrorists nor hardened criminals.
“Arrests are unnecessary. It’s a waste of time and public funds. A waste of judicial resources having to force magistrates to hear remand requests,” he added.
Denouncing the use of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 - laws Anwar and Pakatan Harapan had once pledged to repeal - the Pejuang leader accused the Madani administration of blatant hypocrisy.
“So far, there have been four arrests. It is said that more are expected.
“The height of hypocrisy lies in the use of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. All those arrested or detained are being investigated under these provisions.
“Didn’t they once promise to abolish these draconian laws? Now not only are they not repealed - they are used against critics of PMX and/or the government,” he added.
Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali
Rafique said that instead of making arrests, the police could have simply scheduled appointments with those under investigation to record their statements.
“Submit the investigation papers to the attorney-general. If there’s an offence, let the charges proceed and let them defend themselves. That is the rule of law.
“These arrests serve no other purpose than political intimidation, to scare the people and prevent ‘Turun Anwar 2.0’. To the people, remember this: the voice of the people is sacred. The pressure being applied proves that the government fears the people,” he added.
Rafique said that instead of making arrests, the police could have simply scheduled appointments with those under investigation to record their statements.
“Submit the investigation papers to the attorney-general. If there’s an offence, let the charges proceed and let them defend themselves. That is the rule of law.
“These arrests serve no other purpose than political intimidation, to scare the people and prevent ‘Turun Anwar 2.0’. To the people, remember this: the voice of the people is sacred. The pressure being applied proves that the government fears the people,” he added.
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Both sides have been childish
https://theedgemalaysia.com/arelye/graphic-artist-trouble-after-clowning-najib%E2%80%99s-picture
ReplyDeleteFahmi Reza was sentenced to jail on 2016 for drawing a cartoon of Najib as a clown - completely violence free.
The caning of the Anwar effigy was on a totally different level, and suggested an invitation to violence, which is definitely grounds for criminal penalty.