The party’s Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman Ti Lian Ker praised the judiciary and the Attorney-General’s (AG) Chambers for upholding the rule of law in the country without fear and favour.
He said it was a good sign that the wheels of justice were working.
“Malaysians from all walks of life must be vigilant in upholding the rule of law.
“We must not allow a few or a handful to tear this nation apart by harping on sentiments by hurling seditious words at others in an attempt to appear heroic,” Ti said.
The sedition charge against Abdullah Zaik was over an article titled “Kedatangan pendatang Cina bersama penjajah British satu bentuk pencerobohan” (“The arrival of the Chinese with the British colonialists a form of intrusion”), published on May 6, 2014.
Ti said that racial insults against ethnic minorities in the country was a form of political “animalism” that had been going on for years, adding that it was also a form of bullying and intimidation.
“It also shows that some Malaysians are still lacking in grey matter. They are unable to articulate based on sound facts and solid principles.
“I’m glad that our political masters and guardians of justice are seen to be putting a stop to these forms of politicking that are way beneath our level of progress in becoming a mature nation.”
Religious Harmony Bureau Deputy Chairman Ng Chok Sin also echoed similar sentiments, describing the conviction against Abdullah Zaik as reasonable.
“Our citizenship defines our rightful place as Malaysians.
“Would Abdullah Zaik dare to use the term ‘intruder’ against Malaysians who joined the Islamic State terrorist group, which has caused the slaughter of innocent lives in Iraq and Syria?”
The Kajang Sessions Court today ordered Abdullah Zaik to pay a RM2,000 fine, or serve two years in prison if he failed to do so.
Ng hoped that Abdullah Zaik would learn his lesson from this verdict and subsequently apologise to all Malaysians for using the derogatory term “pendatang” in describing the Chinese and Indian communities in the country.
“Malaysians who want to be public figures must not play up the racial card to score political mileage and seek cheap publicity.”