Free Alvivi, charge real hate speech makers

J UL Y 1 9, 20 13 L AT EST UP DA TE : J UL Y 19 , 2 01 3 0 4: 07 PM

Zan Azlee is a documentary filmmaker, journalist, writer, New Media practitioner and lecturer. He runs Fat Bidin Media www.fatbidin.com

I had made it a point to not comment in my writings or even mention in any conversations that I had about the Alvivi bak kut teh puasa incident. They are obviously cheap attention seekers who deserve not even a single ounce of my time and intellect.

But what the authorities did by charging the idiotic couple in court for sedition and pornography is just the wrong way to handle things.

Hate speech is hate speech and can be very dangerous but it doesn't take a genius to distinguish actual hateful intentions and just plain stupidity. And Alvilvi is just obviously plain stupidity. And just like the rest of us, I wish we could jail people for stupidity too. But we can't. Now let's look at the real hate speech makers out there that have actual intentions of hate and are getting away with it scot-free. First up is Ridhuan Tee Abdullah who, week after week, spews out condemnation on non-Muslims and non-Malays in his newspaper column (although a non-Malay himself). What happens to him? He gets the backing of the ruling political powers who obligingly launches his books and introduces him at public "ceramahs". Then there is Datuk Zulkifli Noordin who seems to have a vengeance against Malaysians who are of the Hindu persuasion, and belittles and insults the religion. He becomes a "friend" of our ruling political powers and is even given a ticket to contest in the general election (thank Ganesha he lost!). But the one that takes the cake has to be Malaysia's number one chief hate speech maker, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, or who a journalist friend of mine likes to call "Comical Ali". Here's a person who can actually get away with threatening to burn a holy book, the Bible nonetheless, and continues to be given the media limelight. "Comical Ali" is whole-heartedly fighting against freedom of religion in Malaysia and constantly pushing his agenda of Malay supremacy. It's like Hitler incarnate. So, as much as I hate what Alvivi did on their Facebook page, I see it as pure stupidity on their part. They should be punished and learn from what they did. But by charging them in court, the authorities are just reaffirming how they are practicing double standards in this beautiful country of ours. Then they should also bring to court people like my nemesis Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Zulkifli Noordin and "Comical Ali" for their actions, which were definitely premeditated.

Oh, and how could I have forgotten about Alvivi's pornography charge. Yes! And we have our great Chinese leader, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who seems to be wellloved by a party that isn't. So my final words - Free Alvivi! - July 19, 2013.

Published: Friday July 19, 2013 MYT 12:00:00 AM Updated: Friday July 19, 2013 MYT 7:06:36 AM

Denial of bail is punishment, say lawyers

PETALING JAYA: Denying sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee bail on the grounds that they have a tendency to incite the public is tantamount to punishment, say lawyers. Civil liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan said denying bail was excessive considering that the charges against the duo under the Sedition Act, the Penal Code and the Film Censorship Act are relatively light, carrying jail terms of between two and five years. While many may be angry over the issue, a DPP should act in the interest of justice and not follow public sentiment, he said. Lawyer Datuk V. Sithambaram said there were three yard sticks in determining if a court should allow bail whether the accused is a flight risk, if they might interfere with the witnesses, or if they were habitual offenders. To say there is a tendency, there must be a track record of convictions. If they are being charged for the first time, how do you prove they are habitual offenders? he said. Criminal lawyer G. Ravishankar said bail should not be looked at as a form of punishment, adding that the court should exercise its right to offer bail judiciously. In court yesterday, DPP Noorin Badaruddin urged that no bail be given saying Tan and Lee had a tendency to upload content that stirred public anger. Constitutional lawyer Edmond Bon said that while unbailable offences like terrorism left no leeway for bail, non-bailable offences allowed for bail according to the courts discretion. By keeping them in jail during the trial, even if they are acquitted, they would have lost their liberty, he said, adding that the duo could appeal to the High Court to allow b

Alvivi charged over sex and religion, denied bail

YOURSAY All said and done, they are unarmed, do not cause violence and injure, kill or maim people and should not be treated like terrorists.' Alvivi charged over sex and religion, denied bail Anonyxyz: For those who believe in God of any religion, say a few prayers for these two stupid, irresponsible and mentally disturbed individuals. No sane person will do what they have done in a highly racialised and politicised society of ours. Prayers for them to come out of jail safely to be tried in a court where the verdict is definitely predictable. All said and done, they are unarmed, do not cause violence and injure, kill or maim people and should not be treated like hunted terrorists. The laws should be equally applied and if all those previous cases of hate speech have been acted upon like this case and punished severely, this incident may not have happen. SelangorKu: It looks like all men are born equal and some are more equal than others. In the eyes of God, all religions are equally good but in Malaysia one religion is more good than others. Anyone insulting any religion should be charged and the BN government should not selectively prosecute offenders. Indeed, why not prosecute MCA chief Dr Chua Soi Lek who had admitted he was the person in the porn video. Malaysia is becoming a Taliban country. Hplooi: Denied bail. Others with the right connections are untouchable even when serious and unambiguous cases of race-baiting are clearly proven and seen. In fact, the privileged get to have tea with the minister immediately after publicly humiliating a whole community. What happen if the bak kut teh' they ate was really halal' (for your information halal' bak kut teh is available, same as halal' dim-sum). Can they then sue the government for wrongful remand? Dont Just Talk: The three youths who were charged in the Session Court with for raping a 19-year-old girl were granted bail but bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee who were charged with sedition were denied bail.

Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali who urged the burning of the Bible was not charged while the former Court of Appeal judge Mohd Noor Abdullah who also allegedly made seditious statements was also not charged. Why the double standard? Argonist: This is Malaysian justice. Guilty before even being tried. Those who did worse crimes are given bail. Is sending them to a prison full of criminals who wouldn't think twice of harming these kind of prisoners wise? Let's wait and see how they will be treated while waiting for the trial to be heard. TehTarik: What the duo did was wrong and is insensitive to the feelings of Muslims. But what about thoroughbred racists like Ibrahim Ali, Zulkifli Noordin, Ridhuan Tee Abdullah? How about the neo-Nazi newspaper Utusan Malaysia? These racists are immune to persecution. They have disparaged Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity. This country is going to the dogs. I shudder to imagine what will happen to the non-Muslims in 20 years' time when their population shrinks to 20 percent or so. I envisage that the brain and capital drain will continue and may even accelerate as the country is in danger of being run by religious and racist fascists, who are ever willing to trample over the sensitivities and feelings of the minorities. And the law has been deafeningly silent on these bigots. One country, two classes of citizens. Pemerhati: If anyone had any doubt that Malaysia under Umno rule is a false democracy, this action of sending Alvivi to prison even before the trial has begun, should confirm that Malaysia is indeed a 100 percent dictatorship. Only in a dictatorship can persons who are strongly suspected of being involved in murder by using C4, are kaki pukul' and blatantly insult other religions can enjoy complete immunity from the law, while a person disliked by the dictator is punished by being speedily sent to prison for an offence similar to the one repeatedly committed by many of the dictator's lackeys (i.e. insulting another religion). By carrying out this selective prosecution and farcical trial, PM Najib Razak hopes to fool the world and the people into thinking that Malaysia is a democracy where there is rule of law.

The only difference between Najib and say, Saddam Hussein, is that Najib uses the courts to do his dirty work while Saddam would have used his secret police. MockingYou: I don't condone what was done by this couple but the more I read between the lines, the more I suspect they chose to wade into the thick of it to expose what many commentators already commented, i.e. the other wrongdoers. Alvin Tan could pull another big stunt by making a mockery of our judiciary; no bail for a start. Swipenter: Maybe Alvivi are making themselves as "martyrs" unintentionally with their prank in this Bolehland of double standards and selective prosecution. Just look at the firestorm kicked up by the speed they were arrested, the charges thrown at them and the magistrate denying them bail. Much more serious criminal offences committed are not denied bail but why not Alvivi? Added to that those insulting religions of non-Muslims are let off the hook to continue their insults for another day. We are not saying what the couple did was right but the way they are being pursued by the authorities seems to give them unintentionally a "marytr" status, spotlighting brightly the double standards and selective prosecution by the authorities. Now all eyes are on this case and if he or she was to so much as to lose a hair in prison, expect a huge backlash from the fair-minded rakyat. Odin: To all foreigners reading this, here's the reality in Malaysia - if you are Muslim and are aligned to Umno Baru, you may break any law. If you are Muslim and are not aligned to the party, or if you are not Muslim and not aligned to the party, the full force of the law and some will be brought to bear on you faster than you can scream "help!" even for the slightest, most mundane infraction. If you are of the latter group and you are Indian, you'll be hammered to death in the police lock-up, your ears stapled and testicles mangled. If you are of the latter group and you are Chinese, you'll get what this couple has got. Now I'm off to enjoy my halal' beef bak kut teh. Newdawn4pg: Charging these two idiots is a right thing to do. However denying them bail is definitely an error when more serious offenders are allowed bail. Two wrongs don't make a right. CQ Muar: The judiciary in Malaysia is one of a kind. It is obvious this country

no longer practices justice, but judgment decided upon by the those in Umno. Are those learned officers of the court so constricted by authorities as to render themselves so helpless to enable them to discharge their duties independently with dignity, honour and conscience? Tuah: For blogging and probably, a foolish youthful prank on the Internet, this young couple is facing the full weight of the law. Charge them but is there a necessity to put them in prison when they are not even proven guilty in a court of law yet? Laws must be applied fairly and tempered with wisdom. Wira: Alvivi (n., vt.)- [a new word for the English dictionary] meaning selective punishment. Eg. Poor Steven was alvivied with a demotion and a salary cut because his group messed up the project.

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