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Cabinet tomorrow should restore a sense of proportion, apply the brake and end the frenzy demanding mandatory jail sentence for illegal VCD peddlers by referring the whole issue to the parliamentary select committee on the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code for public feedback and recommendation

 


Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang

(Parliament, Tuesday): The Cabinet tomorrow should restore a sense of proportion, apply the brake and end the frenzy demanding mandatory jail sentence for illegal VCD peddlers by referring the whole issue to the parliamentary select committee on the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code for public feedback and recommendation.

Whether the kingpins of illegal VCD syndicates should come under a law entailing mandatory jail sentence on conviction is open to debate and discussion, but it is clearly ludicrous and outrageous to impose a mandatory jail sentence on illegal VCD peddlers, who are invariably teenagers and not employed.

Such teenagers peddling illegal VCDs may have broken the law and should be suitably punished, but must they be condemned by society to a term of jail sentence, as if they have committed graver crimes than snatch thiefs who cause bodily harm, psychological trauma and deprived Malaysians the fundamental rights to be free from crime and the fear of crime or the corrupt who pocketed millions or tens of millions of ringgit who enjoy immunity from prosecution and even investigation?

Sunday Mail reported the gross and blatant abuses of power by Federal Territory Religious Department (JAWI) enforcement officers and the mistreatment and humiliations suffered by some 100 Muslim youths, men and women, in a 10-hour ordeal following a raid at a Kuala Lumpur club in the wee hours of Jan. 20.

Not only the parents and relatives of the victims of the mistreatment and humiliation by the JAWI enforcement officers are incensed, but all sensible Malaysians, regardless of religion, race or political affiliation, are outraged and have the right to be outraged!

Is any Cabinet Minister going to suggest that public officials like JAWI enforcement officers who abuse their powers, mistreat and humiliate members of the public in such a fashion reminding Malaysians of the American military abuses of Iraqi prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq should face mandatory jail sentences under a new law?

Something will have gone terribly wrong with morality and the proper sense of values in Malaysia if teenage illegal VCD peddlers are mandatorily sent to jail while worse and more wicked wrongdoers can go scot-free or escape lightly. The Cabinet meeting tomorrow should send out a clear message that Malaysia has not gone down such a slippery slope.

(25/1/2005)


* Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission Chairman