Law must be upheld but 10-year jail for insult excessive, says Kit Siang

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 10 Mar 2019 1:59PM · 6 Comments

Lim Kit Siang says a sessions court’s decision to impose a 10-year jail sentence on a man who insulted Islam is excessive. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 9, 2019.

A sessions court’s decision to impose a 10-year jail sentence on a man who insulted Islam is excessive, said Lim Kit Siang.

The DAP parliamentary leader said respect for all religions as provided by the constitution is a must and all Malaysians should have mutual respect for each other’s faith, but the 10-year jail punishment is too severe.

“There must be no excessive punishments like the 10-year jail sentence by the Kuching Sessions Court for a social media holder for insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad,” he said in a statement today.

A man from Kuching was sentenced to more than 10 years’ jail, and three others were charged over insults against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on social media, police said yesterday.

Lim said the views of Malaysians are no more private in social media and can immediately become viral without any control.

“Malaysians must be conscious of the uses and abuses of social media, where its effects are magnified in an explosive manner.

“Malaysians must develop a sceptical and cynical attitude to the messages they receive on social media. They must check the veracity of the message before sharing it with others.

“If not, they could fall victim to the vicious and toxic politics of lies, hate, fear, race and religion currently prevailing in the country,” he said in a statement today.

Lim said if Malaysians can develop a healthy scepticism as advised by de facto Deputy Law Minister Hanipa Maidin, the person who was jailed should appeal against the decision of the Kuching Sessions Court.

Lim added that he too had become a victim of social media attacks.

He said he had been called anti-Malay, anti-Islam, and a communist before and when Pakatan Harapan won the polls, and newer accusations had also been held against him.

“When such lies and falsehoods were proven wrong after May 9, 2018, new lies and falsehoods were manufactured to allege that I am the real power in the Pakatan Harapan government in Putrajaya and that Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar Ibrahim, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Mohamad Sabu were merely my stooges and puppets,” he said. – March 10, 2019.

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Comments

  • It's actually 10 years and 10 months, closer to 11 years than 10.

    Posted 5 years ago by Yoon Kok · Reply

  • Before the law is to be convicted on the man will PH please haul up Zakir Naik and impose 10 years jail sentence on him instead of allocating him a place in Malaysia as PR. Let him enjoy his stay in jail. If not stop the hypocrisy of having only Islam in Malaysia where there are other religion that is insulted daily by bigots and extremist of both Umno and PAS. Do not let us Rakyat chase you PH out the government.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • Agreed. What was TM thinking about? Playing to the gallery? No more games

      Posted 5 years ago by Kenneth Tan · Reply

  • When Zakir Naik insulted the Hindus, he was given a PR in Malaysia. If this is not hypocritical and high level injustice, what is?

    Posted 5 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

    • Wikipedia
      According to official figures, the riots ended with 1,044 dead, 223 missing, and 2,500 injured. Of the dead, 790 were Muslim and 254 Hindu.[13] The Concerned Citizens Tribunal Report,[14] estimated that as many as 1,926 may have been killed.[1] Other sources estimated death tolls in excess of 2,000.[15] Many brutal killings and rapes were reported on as well as widespread looting and destruction of property. The Chief Minister of Gujarat at that time, Narendra Modi, was accused of initiating and condoning the violence, as were police and government officials who allegedly directed the rioters and gave lists of Muslim-owned properties to them.[16]

      Posted 5 years ago by It's me GR · Reply

  • I am now very suspicious of the judge who meted out this verdict of 10 years. Looks like he is sabotaging the PH government and stirring up racial tension further. It is absurd and unbelievable that such sentences can be carried out and makes a mockery of the legal and the Government leagal institution. All the PH MPs better wake up or else PH will be chased out. This reprehnsible actions in a quick disposing despicable sentences on a minor offence insulted the rakyat intelligence. Now the rakyat are not viewing the act by the judge himself as abominable miscarriage of justice and intimidation by the legal body to suppress and bullying thru the legitimacy of power entrusted. An acceptable punishment to prevent or deter future occurrence are now lost with such heavy handed and intelligence devoid racist decision. It will not be forgotten by rakayt as such triviality are being made into some shit stirring legal scandals.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply