It was a fun-filled event in Penang this morning when 17 people volunteered to shave their heads and beards in protest against the Emergency Ordinance.

penang hari shaving protest 300711 soh sook hwa head shaving The 14 men and three woman, and a Penang Municipal (MPPP) councillor - who shaved his beard - to show their outrage over the use of the draconian law against six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists.

The six, including Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jeyakumar, were released unconditionally after 28 days in detention in Kuala Lumpur.

They had been earlier held for allegedly playing a key role in the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur, demanding electoral reforms.

The group gathered around 8.30am at the Bayan Baru market food court, while PKR Pantai Jerejak assemblyperson Sim Tze Tsin, whose constituency is within the area, was present to show support.

penang hari shaving protest 300711 three female participants Those who went bald included two DAP lawmakers - Teh Yee Cheu (Tanjung Bungah state assemblyperson) and Koay Teng Guan (Sungai Pinang), MPPP councillor Mohd Rashid Hasnon (who shaved his beard) and Suaram Penang coordinator Ong Jing Cheng.

The three stout-hearted women ( above ) were PSM central committee members Soh Sook Hwa, Loo Que Lin and Yap Soo Huey.

Five hair stylists from Weiny Hair Studio volunteered to undertake the mission pro bono .

None safe from draconian laws

Sim, who is PKR Bayan Baru chief, said BN and Umno are using whatever means to hang on to power.

"Today, the victims are PSM activists, tomorrow it could be PKR, DAP or just an ordinary citizen," he said.

penang hari shaving protest 300711 sim tze tsin speech "This is part of the people's struggle to reject a cruel regime; we remind the authorities not to be arrogant against the people's demand for electoral reforms as in the July 9 rally in Kuala Lumpur," he added.

Sim ( right ) said Prime Minister Najib Razak should explain the reason behind the detention of the PSM 6.

He said MIC or Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin should not claim credit for the release of the six as the PSM leaders should not have been locked up in the first place.

Meanwhile, Teh said that although the six have been released, the 17 went ahead with the shaving as the government continues to detain citizens without trial under laws like the Internal Security Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act.

penang hari shaving protest 300711 group photo before shave Their protest is also targeted at the mysterious deaths of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad Sarbani, at MACC premises; and A Kugan and Aminulrasyid Amzah at the hands of the police.

"We have not forgotten them, and we will not forget. The release of the six does not mean we will stop our struggle but instead we will continue until the cruel laws are abolished," he said.

"Shaving our heads is a symbolic gesture to express our dissatisfaction at the government.

penang hari shaving protest 300711 dap tanjung bungah state assemblyman teh yee cheu "These are not merely strands of hair fallen to the ground, but show our collective disappointment, anger and disappointment that we feel in our struggles," he added.

Teh ( right ) said that the volunteers all loved their hair but cherished freedom, truth and justice more.

He added that the cruel actions of government leaders were like hairs on their head which continue to grow.

He stressed that the unwavering struggle of the six to fight injustices persuaded others that the bad deeds of a person is determined by his or her behaviour not the wealth or physical looks of a person.