Difference rule for different people

SEPT 2 — The main take-away from Friday’s cow head protest in Shah Alam is this: that the authorities apply one set of standards for Umno politicians and another for the rest of the country.

Just look at the lame response of the police to the action of the 50 men who marched in protest against the building of a Hindu temple and then compounded matters further with incendiary language.

Six days later and no one has been charged with sedition or any other offence for that matter. Sure, there has been stock answers of the “leave no stone unturned variety’’ and “take a serious view’’ but precious little action has been taken against individuals who promised to shed blood if the Selangor state government went ahead and built a place of worship for Hindus in a predominantly Malay area.

Just listen to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s courtship of the residents in Section 23, some of whom were participants in the illegal march. He is meeting the residents today because “we want to be fair to everyone and give them a chance to defend themselves.’’ How magnanimous?

Would he be equally charitable the next time Malaysians are arrested for demonstrating against the Internal Security Act? Would he sit down and have coffee with Malaysians accused of other crimes to give them a chance to defend themselves?

The right forum for the instigators and participants of the cow head’s march to defend themselves is in court, not the minister’s conference room. But he is caught in a bind as are other Umno leaders who have been slow to condemn the actions of the protestors.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been silent. Datuk Shafie Apdal has been silent. Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been silent. Datuk Khaled Nordin has been silent. Datuk Ali Rustam has been silent. Could it be that they agree with the actions of the protestors or they see a strategic opportunity to drive a wedge between the Malay electorate in Selangor and the Pakatan Rakyat government?

Or does it come down to this single fact: they can’t bring themselves to dress down their party men who inspired Friday’s march?

The brother of the Shah Alam Umno division chief was one of the chief actors in the parade last Friday. He was ably assisted by several Umno Youth officials who are not residents of Section 23.

In all likelihood, the party leadership will give these instigators a gentle rap on the wrist and move on. By doing so, they will send an unmistakable message to their party men that insulting the religion of other Malaysians is only a minor infraction.