Chong (front row, third right) with (from right) Chiew, Yong and others pose at the One Stop Centre.
KUCHING: Sarawak DAP has lodged a report against the recent open monetary reward offered by Majlis Jemaah NGO Islam Malaysia to any person who slaps Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
Its chairman Chong Chieng Jen said the offer itself ‘is an act of crime’ for it incited not only violence but also criminal intimidation.
“This has never happened in Malaysia whereby any person is offered a reward openly to commit a crime. The open offer of reward has been published for more than 24 hours, and Umno leaders are keeping quiet as if they condone such an act.
“We do not want to see Malaysian politics develop into politics of terrorism. As the leader of the country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should condemn such acts publicly and see to it that people behind it are immediately apprehended and prosecuted,” he told journalists at the One Stop Centre at Simpang Tiga here yesterday.
It was made to understand DAP MPs in Sibu and their counterparts from various states across the country had also made similar police reports.
As of press time yesterday, the monetary reward of RM500 was hiked up to RM1,200.
DAP’s Kok was targeted following her political satire video clip called ‘Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014’, which was uploaded to a social networking site before ringing in the Year of the Horse.
In the video clip, Kok poses as a feng shui talk show host and has ‘panellists’ poking fun at various national issues including the education system, rising cost of living and public safety.
Chong, also Bandar Kuching MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, pointed out that Kok’s video – whether offensive or not – “does not call for such public offer of reward”.
He said any person who inflicted injuries upon any other person could be charged with an assault while an attempt to induce criminal intimidation might face action under the Sedition Act.
“If the police do not take any action within 12 hours, they will be seen as condoning the act. Should anything happen to Teresa Kok, the police are to be held responsible for their negligence in not taking action.”
Among those present at the One Stop Centre were Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong and Batu Kawa assemblywoman Christina Chiew.