No need for govt involvement in Zakir’s defamation dispute

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 12 Sep 2019 11:12AM · 4 Comments

ZAKIR Naik’s allegation that five people had defamed him is a civil case, and it is not appropriate for police to investigate matters of a civil nature. It also sends the wrong message to the country, at a time when we need to stand united and not allow ethno-religious politicking to rip us apart.

The five accused by the preacher are Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy, Klang MP Charles Santiago, Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees and former ambassador Dennis J. Ignatius.

It is not for the government to get involved in civil cases concerning the private affairs of individuals. Our police force is professional, and must have gotten unwise instructions with political motivations from the Home Ministry.

The investigations into the five appear aimed at appeasing rural folk. If it is for political expediency, this attempt to win the rural vote is unlikely to bear fruit.

The home minister’s party, Bersatu, will gain few votes, if none, from the police probe. In fact, the wrong message is being sent to those who have been capitalising on ethno-religious issues with the intent to destabilise the Pakatan Harapan government. It emboldens them further.

Too much time has been wasted on racial and religious politicking, and this must be put to a stop. Our nation-building and reform efforts have gotten distracted. Instead, we should be working towards harnessing our collective strength, fostering understanding, respect and trust, and promoting unity. The focus should now be on economic issues. – September 12, 2019.

* Wong Ang Peng is Patriot public communications director.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.

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Comments

  • It appears that the Indian crook who is not even a citizen has more rights than the ordinary citizen.

    Posted 6 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply

  • Sick n Tired with both Zakir n Bersatu

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • As far as the rakyat is concerned now, politicians whether they are UmnoBN PAS or Pakatan Harapan are hopeless. They screwed up the Unity of the multiracial races , the economy , the education, the judiciary system, high unemployment rate, corruptions , ineffective institution in upholding the rules of law and only committed to the government of the day especially to the PM, deteriorating health care , homeless and hungary folks on the rise, no improvement in crime rate but more of false statistics of datas and the list goes on and on .......and on......... So why are we so nice to incompetent, self serving and racist politicians that is ruining our lives and placing the country in reverse conditions. They need to be told to leave.....

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • I agree 100% with your last paragraph. Now that courts and police are getting involved, let the matter take its course.

    Posted 6 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply