DAP member Zaid Ibrahim has to take responsibility for his own comments on the Selangor sultan, says the party’s publicity chief, Tony Pua. 

“Our members are allowed to express their opinions but they have to deal with the repercussions that come, rightly or wrongly… especially when (Zaid) does not hold a position in the party,” Pua, who is also Petaling Jaya Utara MP, said today. 

Pua declined to comment further on the party’s stand on the issue. 

Zaid tweeted on his Twitter account @zaidibrahim on Tuesday: “The Selangor sultan should be careful with his words. No one is immune when country burns.”

Zaid also tweeted later: “When some rulers play politics; they must know the consequences. Don’t think there’s no price to pay for partisanship.”

On Wednesday, Umno’s Sungai Besar division chief Jamal Yunos and his supporters yesterday burned effigies of the former law minister on the sidelines of Umno’s 71st general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. 

Jamal, who leads the Red Shirts movement, took a sledgehammer to a cardboard cutout of Zahid today, telling reporters he would “hammer his head if no action is taken against him”.

Zaid today said he was seeking police protection after Jamal’s threat.

“I hope the inspector-general of police will take care of our safety,” Zaid tweeted today.

The former Umno MP for Kota Baru said he did not think that Umno’s leaders would calm the situation. 

“And as such, the police are all we have to rely on,” said Zaid. – December 8, 2017.