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Apply common sense over 'slipper for Najib'

YOURSAY ‘Why go after a poor man who is venting his anger at price rise?’

Cops probe 'slipper for Najib' protester

The Analyser: Insults are always in the mind of the person offended. The more insecure a person, the greater the likelihood that he or she will feel insulted. Why not apply a little common sense to this situation and assume the man was using his shoe as a pointer?

Louis: Aiya, why go after a poor man who is venting his anger at Najib Abdul Razak for allowing the price of petrol to rise? He must be experiencing so much hardship with the ever-increasing prices of essential goods.

Use the resources to catch real crooks and corrupt leaders, instead of trying very, very hard to catch a truly, truly poor man.

SS Dhaliwal: Jibby, what people think of you is much worse than a slipper on your picture.

Kangkung: If that pair of slippers was aimed on the face of an opposition leader, will our police force be so efficient?

Tsie Wei Yuan: It is interesting that holding a slipper next to a photograph constitutes criminal intimidation.

UntaSenyum: Desperate situation demands desperate action! Many will be throwing/slapping, too... some in the secret places, some in the hearts, some throwing curses out.

The only difference is he did it in public. Will the leaders be able to emphatise with his sufferings? Mr PM, take it as a sign/indicator from the rakyat that they are suffering!

Sa tombs: What on earth is wrong about pointing at a photograph printed on a sheet of paper with a slipper? So, if the Royal Malaysian Police (PRDM) don’t mind, can they tell me whether I am committing an offence if I drive my car over a newspaper with the PM’s photo on it?

Or am I expected to stop my car in the middle of the highway and remove the newspaper? Have the police lost their marbles?

Dalvik: I feel peace watching this photo. So what's wrong with it?

Lim chong leong: How does this uncle's action amount to criminal intimidation or intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of the peace? Is Najib intimidated by a poor uncle? Was there any provocation to breach the peace?

It seems he had much support from the many who just got no guts to do what he did, mainly because of the threat of intimidation from selective persecution. If there is any criminal intimidation, it is from the Najib administration and his police goons.

FLOM: There is no law to forbid people from using a slipper as a pointer. He is only lecturing with a slipper.

Imanust Nais Yalam: Cannot use slipper, lah because ada Section 504. Use lah chicken blood - that one, no problem.

Louis: Wa! Najib’s status has been elevated so high that placing a slipper next to his picture is an offence. What qualities has Najib to be accorded such status? Mind boggling!

Man on the Street: The machinery of the Umno government has come to be the failings of the system. Inequality, injustice, unfairness, and exploitation of people is the game played by this sick government to hold on to power!

Anonymous_1396929433: In Malaysia, we have seen an intention to give him the slipper. It is not the same as hitting his face with a slipper. Intention is not a crime. The police will yet again be practising double standards if they even dare to charge him.

Negarawan: The poor people have to bear the brunt of Najib's and Umno's utter failures. They have every right to express their anger and frustration in a peaceful manner. If Umno wants to punish these helpless people in a despotic way, more anger will come their way from every fair-minded Malaysian.

Umno, don't punish the poor to feed the rich. You will never escape the karmic law, which is much more powerful than a slipper pointing at your face.

Ferdtan: Tell us why we can’t use symbolism, like a slipper pointing, mind you not even hitting, at a picture of a politician who so happens to be a prime minister chosen by the minority 47 percent of Malaysians? Does this mean that we cannot criticise PM Najib? Does he have the same royal standing as our sultans?

If not, then why are the police taking action against the protester? The man was investigated under Section 504 and 506 of the Penal Code. Section 504 concerns intentional insult with the intent to provoke or breach peace while Section 506 is related to criminal intimidation.

So, when we criticise the PM and his ministers in the company of friends in a coffee shop, is it not the same as what this protester did? Instead of using the slipper we use our words - unimaginable words at that.

This is one creative form of protest, highlighting causes by bringing attention to the public. What is rude? This is not rude as he didn’t physically show the slipper to the face of PM in person. This is only a picture of Najib.

If US President Obama, the most powerful man in the world, obviously can have his picture being treated much worse, like being burned and stamped on by his opposing Americans without being arrested, then who is PM Najib Razak? This can only happen in countries ruled by dictators.

Ericlcc: When this man did what he had done, he was only thinking of the future of his children and the young generations, because these future generations will have to bear the full brunt of Najib's reckless mismanagement and mounting debt. In the eyes of his children, he is not a criminal but a hero.

Survivor: The guy who holds the slipper is the master. The guy in the picture is only a civil servant and a politician. What is wrong with the master using a slipper to tell the servant to do a better job?

Anonymous_1399517796: It's just a threat, not an actual slap on Najib's face with a slipper lah! Same like Ibrahim Ali, threatening to burn the Bible, but stupid ministers say the Bible not burned yet, so no need to pursue.

Alvin Tan asked Muslims to buka puasa with bak kut teh, so should be no charge against him also. Did any Muslim buka puasa with bak kut teh, ah?

Nil: No offence was intended, so no offence should be taken. It was only a show of protest. The "target" person should take this as a feedback and consider and accommodate the feelings of the "offender". Why not invite the protester to talk about it, over coffee and doughnuts (without the slipper, of course )?

Axolot: This brave man is merely prophesying a tragic end to Malaysia Boleh. He holds a slipper against Mr Pink Lips's pouting face to warn us that after 57 years of gross mismanagement under Umno, the nation is sliding down the slippery slope to failed nation status. Prophets everywhere get threatened with arrest by corrupt regimes.

I just noticed that the photographer cleverly shot from an angle that would make the prime minister look like he's wearing a potted plant instead of a tall songkok. Why not arrest the photographer, too?


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