Bar Council slams Zahid Hamidi

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 11, 2014): The Bar Council is unhappy with the authorities for dragging their feet in acting against the perpetrators of the "chicken blood smearing" and "reward to slap" controversies.
Its president, Christopher Leong, said that delaying enforcement may seem to be "encouraging" such incidents.
He described the actions by a group of Muslim NGOs as being a clear "incitement" and "a threat to public order".
"The demonstration by the NGOs, slaughtering chickens and smearing the blood on the pictures of certain leaders and the implicit or explicit reference to May 13, is an incitement and a threat to public order.
"It is wholly irresponsible on the authorities not to take immediate action when there are valid images of the incident," he told a press conference at the Bar Council here today.
The fact that the authorities were dragging their feet on the matter contributed to the unease that was currently prevailing in the society and may even be seen to be encouraging such incitement, he said.
Leong also criticised Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his statement brushing off the cash reward offered to anyone who could slap Seputeh MP Teresa Kok by saying that it was "not a threat". Ahmad Zahid had said that it was only a real threat if they issued a "death threat".
Leong said the nation's leaders were supposed to resolve tensions that prevail. "Leaders should not by their action or inaction contribute to such tensions," he added.
On Thursday, a group of protestors calling themselves the Council of Muslim NGOs, caused an uproar here when they slaughtered two chickens and offered a RM1,200 reward to anyone who dared to slap Kok as a sign of anger towards opposition leaders for allegedly insulting the Malay leadership and Islam.