AN MCA Youth leader said while those who tarnish religion cannot be spared, vigilantes too must not be let off the hook.
The youth wing’s deputy chairman Mike Chong Yew Chuan said as responsible and mature political leaders they should uphold the rule of law and conduct themselves within the confines of the law rather than manipulate public sentiment based on emotions.
Chong was referring to the March 26 incident which saw a petrol bomb being hurled at a KK Mart outlet in Bidor, Perak.
This came following the “Allah” socks controversy where a pair of socks bearing the word “Allah” was allegedly sold at a KK Mart shop in Bandar Sunway.
“Such criminal intimidation and assault must not be tolerated or condoned. This offensive conduct not only reveals contempt of the law but also poses a serious threat to public order and endangers lives,” Chong said in a statement on Wednesday (March 27).
“This incident comes as a shock and must be roundly rebuked. An unidentified suspect was reportedly captured on CCTV flinging something believed to be a bottle filled with kerosene into the store before leaving the scene.
“MCA Youth opposes any attempts by individuals or organisations to manipulate the law for their own benefit. This includes, inciting people to boycott or engage in actions beyond the boundaries of the law, such as vigilantism.”
Stressing that Malaysia is a nation governed by the rule of law, Chong said only via legal proceedings may judgements be made against any individuals or entities.
“Therefore, in the recent ‘socks’ controversy, MCA Youth asserts that this incident should be dealt with by the authorities via investigations and taking the appropriate action against the related parties,” he added.
“The escalation of provocations, such as advocating for boycotts, serves to only heighten tension in society, strain interethnic and interreligious relations, and ultimately, polarise our citizens.
“Those who tarnish religion cannot be spared, while vigilantes must not be let off the hook. We once again urge political figures who continuously inflame this incident to refrain from doing so and disallow episodes like the petrol bomb attack from recurring, as the consequences would be unimaginable.” – March 27, 2024
Main pic credit: The Star
