Of ‘no further action’ … and still awaiting action

ARCHIVES 2013

By admin-s On Jul 29, 2013

Part of the July 1, 2011 mob that blocked the Penang Bridge in which a reporter was allegedly hit when covering the incident. According to the Home Ministry, investigation into the alleged assault has been completed and investigation papers submitted to the deputy public prosecutor’s office for “advice and decision.”

(fz.com) – One can’t help but wonder why it takes so long to decide on action to be taken on something so blatant and which had been heavily publicised in such a manner.

TWO years ago, on July 1, 2011, a somewhat rowdy street demonstration, reportedly by members of Perkasa and Umno, held in George Town, Penang to show disapproval towards the Bersih 2.0 rally, took an unexpected turn when some of the protesters decided to take their feelings to the Penang Bridge.

Not contented to just drive towards there, in a mob-like frenzy, the protesters decided to stand in the middle span of the bridge that connects the island to the mainland, blocking traffic and resulting in a jam that extended for miles.

At least one reporter was allegedly hit by the mob. Photographs of the incident were splashed in the media for days after that, including the faces of those who participated.

Two years on, action has yet to be taken against the alleged perpetrators.

We are now told that the investigation following a police report lodged on the alleged assault has been completed, and has been passed on to the public prosecutor’s office for “advice and decision”.

This was recently revealed in a written parliamentary reply by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to a query on the progress of the case by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also MP of Bagan.

One can’t help but wonder why it takes so long to decide on action to be taken on something so blatant and which had been heavily publicised in such a manner.

But the case was just one of six involving Perkasa members that were outlined by Zahid in his reply and which are either still awaiting action, or have simply been given the NFA (no further action) stamp.

Questions inevitably arise on why there are no actions yet on these cases. This is because there is a perception that cases of protests that involve Pakatan Rakyat members or civil liberties activists are acted upon relatively quickly.

Lim was more forthright in commenting on Zahid’s revelation. Why is there a need to wait two years, he asked, without any prosecution made on the violence against journalists and also the threats made on the safety of the Penang chief minister?

“This selective attitude and double standard of the public prosecutor’s office and the federal government is clear, where in certain cases which are against opposition leaders prosecution can be made in two months,” he said.

But in cases where the offence sees violence and force used by BN supporters, it is not only delayed but may be closed as well with the ‘NFA’ (no further action) stamp, Lim added. For the record, here are the six police reports outlined by Zahid on the cases that are said to involve Perkasa members.