Despite MCA demands, cops not going after Umno man calling for end to Chinese schools
(Malay Mail Online) – The police said today they will not investigate a junior Umno leader for sedition over his suggestion that the Chinese vernacular system be abolished.
Despite MCA’s demand that the authorities pursue Petaling Jaya Utara Umno deputy division chief Mohamad Azli Mohemed Saad for sedition, Sepang police chief Supt Mohd Yusoff Awang said the case has been categorised as a civil matter.
“We investigated and we classified it as a civil case,” Yusoff told Malay Mail Online today.
MCA Selangor Youth education bureau chief Datuk Lawrence Low Kah Guan today expressed anger and regret at Mohamad Azli’s suggestion for the Umno general assembly next month to debate closing down Chinese schools.
“The MCA Selangor Youth Education Bureau hopes that an investigation must be carried out against Mohamad Azli after (a) police report has been lodged and stern disciplinary action must be taken in order to avoid criticism of double-standard(s) in implementing and enforcing the Sedition Act by the government,” Low said in a statement today.
In news reports today, Mohamad Azli told his critics from MCA to “shut [their] mouth” and not meddle in what he described as Umno’s affairs.
He added that the Chinese party’s leaders only managed to win in Election 2013 using Malay votes, and that they have been rejected by the community they profess to represent.
MCA religious harmony bureau chairman Datuk Ti Lian Ker said in response that Umno had survived the 1999 general election because of MCA, when the majority of Malays rejected the Barisan Nasional lynchpin during the opposition’s Reformasi movement.
“It was MCA that helped BN (Barisan Nasional) win the day,” Ti told Malay Mail Online.
The ongoing government crackdown under the Sedition Act 1948 has seen investigations and charges against opposition lawmakers, but not politicians from the ruling BN.
Low called Mohamad Azli’s proposal unconstitutional and said it jeopardised the relationship between BN’s component parties.
MCA Youth lodged a police report Sunday against Mohamad Azli for sedition.
On October 5, Mohamad Azli was reported by Mingguan Malaysia and New Sunday Times as saying that the upcoming annual Umno meeting in November should discuss abolishing the Chinese vernacular school system as it purportedly promotes racism and anti-establishment sentiments.
Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie said in response that the right to vernacular education is protected under Article 152 of the Federal Constitution.
