BUKIT MERTAJAM: PKR’s Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon allegedly instigated the public to ‘feed’ kangkung (water spinach) to the effigy of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
But a local Gerakan division wing was not amused by Lee’s ‘sense of humour’.
Batu Kawan Gerakan youth leader J Puspanathan, 31, lodged a police report at Bandar Perda police station yesterday (Saturday) morning, alleging that Lee had humiliated Najib.
Puspanathan complained that by instigating people to feed the vegetable into Najib’s effigy, Lee had also incited hatred against the country’s top political leader.
“PKR action can lead to tension between rival political supporters. What was their real intention in instigating the public to feed kangkung into a replica of the Prime Minister?
“Does PKR want to create chaos among Malaysians? Is it to incite hatred against the country’s number one leader and the federal government?” asked Puspanathan in his police report.
Apart from Puspanathan, sources revealed that the Seberang Perai Tengah district police have received other reports from local Umno groups and NGOs against Lee’s kangkung antics.
The case is now being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code, which stipulates that “whoever defames another shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”
When met later, Puspanathan told FMT that he does not mind constructive criticisms, but vehemently opposed politicians who “carried the joke too far.”
‘Cheap publicity’
He said Lee and his supporters surely knew that Prime Minister Najib cited kangkung as a mere example to show that not all prices of food commodities had gone up.
He said Lee had manipulated Najib’s speech to embarrass the Prime Minister for cheap publicity and political mileage to boost his own popularity.
“The Machang Bubok rep surely has been over the limit with his antics. Lee has been rude and disrespectful against the Prime Minister,” stressed Puspanathan.
He said he would meet the police investigating officer soon to know the latest feedback on the case.
According to Lee’s Facebook posting on Jan 16, the flash mob was organised at a Machang Bubok wet market to protest the price hikes and the irresponsible attitude of premier Najib.
“The federal government has a duty to prevent price hikes. However, it seems that the government prefers to wash its hands off by saying that it should not be blamed for price hikes,” said Lee in his posting.
The kangkung speech has been a hot topic and source of jokes among Pakatan Rakyat supporters.
On Taipusam night, facing mounting cynical criticisms, Najib broke his silence to defend his speech. He said he had chosen Kangkung as mere food example eaten by virtually all Malaysians, including him.
“It should not be ridiculed by anybody because I gave the example on the principle of supply and demand which decides prices of certain food commodities not subject to price controls,” he said
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