Saturday, April 21, 2012

illegal electioneering...by BN?? or who???

Media Statement by Howard Lee on 20th April 2012 at IPD Ipoh.

It has been brought to DAP’s attention that there are some information leaflets of a defamatory nature being circulated throughout Perak. There has been several issues over the last few months, are double-sided and in full colour of A3 size, in Chinese and carries the name ‘EXPRESS NEWS’. (快讯)

Furthermore, the said leaflets are in clear contravention of the Print, Press and Publications Act 1984 Part 5 which stipulates that every publication printed or published within Malaysia shall have printed legibly in Bahasa Malaysia or the English language on its first or last leaf the name and address of its printer and publisher. The contravention of this section on conviction, is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to both.

The said leaflets have allegedly reached the letterboxes of over 10000 households throughout Perak. The said leaflets also contains misleading and politically spun misrepresentations tantamount to political defamation of DAP and several of its leaders.

In one of the issues, an article makes a baseless accusation of Penang 2nd deputy chief Minster Professor Ramasamy as an appointment ‘in name but not in power’. This rings clear that those behind the dissemination and publication of the leaflets are doing so to incite racial hatred and social disharmony. DAP unequivocally condemns this backward and archaic social and political idealogy.

There was also an incident recently reported that a distributor of one of said leaflets in Ayer Tawar, was openly defaming the chairman and secretary of DAP Perak, calling them ‘Christian extremists’. This is completely unethical and unacceptable electioneering.

This is clear indication that there are certain quarters making an orchestrated and well funded effort in spreading lies to deceive the public. As Perakians have shown their eagerness and urgency to topple BN in the coming elections to return governing power to Pakatan Rakyat, these quarters are resorting to cowardly deceit and unlawful dissemination of information to discredit DAP.

Of late, DAP has been a victim of defamation, and been the subject of outright lies from both reputable as well as unknown publishers. With the imminent 13th General election touted to be as early as June, it would come as no surprise that the Perak BN would do everything they can to continue their illegitimate rule that they snatched from PR and the rakyat of Perak.

As the Election preparation director of DAP Perak, I am today launching a police report, urging the authorities to investigate the abovementioned offence. I would also like to issue the following:

· A challenge to all BN component parties, and their strategists and machinery to deny openly their hand directly or indirectly in this heinous electioneering campaign

· A challenge to all BN component parties to join DAP in openly condemning the dissemination of these leaflets and the messages within.

· A challenge to MCA and Gerakan to assure Perakians that they will not employ lowly tactics such as inciting racial tensions to achieve their political agenda.

·

民主行动党霹雳州竞选主任李存孝于2012420日(星期五)在怡保中央警局所发表的新闻稿:

一些诽谤性的资讯传单近日被分发到霹雳州各处是受到民主行动党的关注。快讯在这几月刊登几项课题,是双面印刷成A3彩色版。

上述传单已明显违反《1984年印刷及出版法令》第5条文,该条文阐明,任何在国内印刷及出版的刊物必须合法拥有该出版者的国文或英文的名字及地址在传单的首页或尾页。一旦违反该项条文,可将被定罪,被判的最高刑罚是不超过一年监禁或罚款不超过马币五千零吉或两者兼施。

据称,上述传单已被分发到霹雳州一万住户的信箱,而且内容含有误导性及扭曲政治事实的内容,相符于向民主行动党及其数位领袖发出的政治诽谤。

其中一项课题包括,一则文章作出毫无根据的指控,声称槟城第二副首席部长拉玛三美博士的委任是徒有虚名、毫无权力。显然的,印刷及派发传单的幕后人士在煽动种族仇恨及社会的不和谐。民主行动党毫不犹豫地严重谴责这些背后陈旧的社会及政治思想。

据称,传单的其中一位派发者还在爱大华公开诽谤民主行动党霹雳州主席及秘书为基督极端分子。这是完全不道德及不被接受的竞选方式。

这清楚地显示,某方面在充足的资金下,正精心策划地向人民散播政治谎言,因霹雳州人民已表明他们的渴望性及紧迫性,以在来临的全国大选推翻国阵政府,恢复民联的执政权力。该方面的怯懦欺骗及违法散播资讯是为了抹黑民主行动党。