Mob Threatens Democracy Champion

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Karpal Singh mobbed by UMNO Youth (1 of 2)

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A mob threatens Malaysian democracy champion at the entrance of Parliament House on Thursday.

The mob, numbering 15-22 people,surrounded MP for Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh at 2.45p.m.

They demanded Karpal,famous for his fearless advocacy of human rights and democratic principles,apologize for using the word "celaka" (God damn) against UMNO Youth in Parliament in his debate speech the day before.

Karpal, Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman, was then at the disabled persons' ramp.He has been wheelchair bound after an accident near his Penang home.

His son,Gobind Singh Deo,MP for Puchong,was in the tower block of Parliament as the mob converged on Karpal.

Five opposition MPs - Lim Lip Eng (DAP - Segambut), Fong Kui Lun (DAP - Bukit Bintang),Chong Chieng Jen (DAP - Bandar Kuching) and N Gobalakrishnan (PKR - Padang Seri) and Fong Po Kuan (DAP - Batu Gajah) rushed to Karpal's aid when the Parliament's security force ignored his call for help.

"It was raining heavily and I received information that Mr. Karpal Singh had been surrounded and attacked at the doorsteps of Parliament House,"recalls Gobind Singh Deo in a late night post on his blog.

Lamenting the lack of police protection and security action for MPs to speak without fear or favour,Gobind continues: 

"I arrived there not much later.

"To my surprise, the group who stalked him were still there.

"It was shameful.

"A few members of the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) had just been assaulted by outsiders and they were still there waiting.

"These people were members of UMNO, the party of the Prime Minister and his Deputy.

"There were still there.

"Not only did the security guards in Parliament do nothing,the police stood by and watched as well.

"No one from UMNO or BN felt any shame nor need to tell these intruders  to disperse until much later."

Apparently, the mob pulled Lim's tie and coat as the security personnel stood and watched.

Fong shouted: "Where is security? Where is security?" The reply heard was "we only jaga (watch or guard) inside, not outside".

Reporters,VIPs,MPs and others at Parliament lobby rushed to the entrance and windows to witness what transpired.

It seems Gobind Singh Deo went to his father's aid and challenged the mob to "one to one fight".

The mob moved off when the security guards finally intervened.

Karpal Singh,true to his courageous nature,raised the despicable act in Parliament immediately.

"Can such a thing happen in Parliament?" he asked, after reciting how the mob of at least 15 men acted like gangsters, blocking him and demanding him to apologize for using the word "celaka".

He told the House he called the (in-house) police for help but none came except for the five opposition MPs.

"What protection as a Speaker will you give us?" he asked Speaker of Parliament Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

The Speaker replied such threats were not condoned in Parliament,adding he would ask police and the relevant Minister in the Prime Minister's Department to  investigate.

Chong Chieng Jen (DAP - Kuching) urged for immediate investigation as guards and witnesses were still at the entrance and in Parliament.

Karpal had used "celaka", an uncomplimentary curse, on UMNO Youth in Parliamentary debate on Wednesday.

He retracted the word after Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar repeatedly urged him do so.

He had expressed alarm over the 100 police reports lodged by UMNO Youth against him and the death threat and two live bullets.

He pointed out that it is a serious offence attracting mandatory death sentence for anyone to send "even one bullet"

"I want to know how UMNO Youth got the bullets and sent them to me." he alleged.

"Jangan main-main dengan saya (Don't play with me). Don't forget that King is Singh and Singh is King," he added,quoting a catchy tagline of a populat Bollywood movie.

Two live bullets with a death threat note were sent to Karpal's house in Jalan Utama,Penang last week.The message warns Karpal not to fool around with the Malay rulers and Malay issues.

Karpal had been outspoken in his strong criticisms of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah. He has stated he would sue the sultan for acting ultra vires Perak Constitution resulting in the loss of Perak state for the opposition People Alliance.

The Perak ruler, a former Lord President, had dismissed ousted Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and his 10-member exco and sworn in a new National Front Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr.Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six-member exco without any formal sitting of the Perak State Assembly and vote of no confidence against Nizar and his exco at the legislative assembly.

His controversial decision, not to give his royal assent to dissolve the hung Perak State Assembly upon Mentri Besar Nizar's advice, has precipitated the Perak Constitutional Crisis.

Nizar has taken his fight to the Kuala Lumpur High Court,filing a constitutional law suit to declare Zambry and his six-member exco "illegal and unconstitutional".

Nizar also seeks judicial review to declare he is the legitimate Perak Mentri Besar and an injunction to stop Zambry or his agents from discharging the duties and functions of Perak Mentri Besar.

Yesterday morning, UMNO Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin,who is son-in-law of outgoing premier Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, held a press conference at Parliament lobby together with UMNO leaders.

Khairy denied UMNO Youth sent the bullets to Karpal. He challenged Karpal to repeat the allegation.

The vital question being asked is: Was it coincidence that the mob assault took place hours later?

Gobind Singh Deo threw some light,describing the attack as political awakening for Malaysians to strengthen the struggle to vote UMNO out of power.

"It's UMNO versus the rest of Malaysia," he explains.

"Let us hope that they carry on doing what they do for only then will we see why it is so important for us to defeat Barisan Nasional (National Front) in the next General Election."