Senator Ezam Mohd Nor’s threats to burn down news portals is a “criminal act” and the police and attorney-general must take immediate action against him, said PKR vice president N Surendran.

“We are appalled that a sitting member of the Dewan Negara has uttered such words and threatened publicly to carry out criminal acts.

NONE “This is an outrageous threat to the property and offices of these two news portals; more seriously, it is also a threat of grievous harm or death against their staff, writers and other occupants,” said Surendran ( right ) in a statement yesterday evening.

He was responding to Ezam’s statement yesterday at a rally at Selangor state mosque in Shah Alam in defence of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department's (Jais) raid on a church in Petaling Jaya last week.

Ezam said yesterday: " Malaysiakini , Malaysian Insider , we are giving you a very last warning. Our warning is a serious one. If you do not stop this rubbish, we are going to burn you down!"

 

Surendran, who is a lawyer, stressed that such a blatant threat was a criminal offence under the laws.

“The police and the attorney-general must take immediate action against Ezam Mohd Nor under sections 503 and 505 of the Penal Code, for criminal intimidation and mischief.”

BN trampling on press freedom

Noting how “trampling over the fundamental freedoms” has become the “hallmark” of the ruling BN, the PKR leader called on Umno to respect the rakyat’s freedom of expression and speech as guaranteed by Article 10 of the federal constitution.

NONE “It is disturbing that a senator from Umno, which is the backbone of the BN government, has threatened mob action and arson upon the news media.”

Ezam ( left ), a former PKR member and ally of supremo Anwar Ibrahim, jumped ship to Umno and is now the opposition leader's bitter foe.

Jumping into the controversy over the Selangor religious enforcement body's raid at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) compound on Aug 3 over allegations of proletysation, Ezam labelled the news portals’ coverage of the incident as being “enemies of Islam”.

DUMC has complained that Jais had entered their premises without a warrant , and disrupted a thanksgiving dinner in support of HIV/AIDs, organised by Harapan Komuniti.

The religious authority claimed that they had received a complaint, but has to date not revealed any details. They also disputed that they had disrupted the dinner.

""No force was used by Jais enforcement officers on that night... only after the event attended by 100 attendees was over, did the inspection take place inside the hall," Jais said in a statement on Thursday.

Senator slams senator

Meanwhile, Gerakan chief Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, has described Ezam’s threat of violence as “uncalled for, unwarranted and unacceptable”.

NONE “If he thinks that reports in the online news portals were not correct and proper, he should present cogent arguments against them, present relevant facts and solid evidence, or even take legal action,” said Koh, who is also a senator.

“Unfortunately, instead of using his intellect and influence to argue and counter whatever he did not agree with, he allowed himself to be overtaken by emotions and sentiments which have evoked negative reaction of others.”

Koh said his colleague in the Dewan Negara has not only tarnished his image as “a senator but also that of the organisations he represents”.

“In the spirit of 1Malaysia, leaders must talk and act with a strong sense of responsibility and restraint and help to resolve any inter-ethnic and inter-religious misunderstanding, controversy or conflict, but not to add more fuel to the fire.