Drop trumped-up DVD charges against Ong immediately :Teresa

Drop trumped-up DVD charges against Ong immediately :Teresa

Senior DAP leader Teresa Kok

Malaysia Chronicle

DAP leader and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has slammed Perak prosecutors for trying to charge Tebing Tinggi assemblyman Ong Boon Piow for possessing 23 DVDs of the Perak “tree assembly”.


"This case against Ong is clear-cut selective prosecution intended to intimidate BN’s political opponents. When illegal DVDs are commonly available in every corner, it is ridiculous that Ong Boon Piow be singled out for punishment," Teresa said in a media statement.

According to her, MCA Perak also distributed thousands of similar DVDs during that period and no charges were laid. As such, the rule of natural justice dictates there must not be any prosecution in Ong's case, Teresa added.

Ong Boon Piow

Ong was due to be charged for video-taping the Pakatan state assembly meeting held under a rain tree last year. On March 3, 2009, Pakatan lawmakers were forced to hold the emergency session after they were physically barred from entering the legislative hall in the Perak Darul Ridwan state secretariat building.

If convicted, the 31-year old first-time assemblyman faces jail of up to three years, fined between RM5,000 to RM30,000 or both. This means Ong could be disqualified from his seat and the state would have to hold its first by-election since the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election won by Nizar in 2009.

"I believe that this trumped up charge is yet another underhanded tactic by Barisan Nasional to takeover another seat in the Perak assembly as they did in 2009. The charge against Ong must be dropped immediately to retain any semblance of credibility for the government of Perak," said Teresa.

Nevertheless, in a surprise U-turn the Perak authorities deferred the charges to an unspecified date, sparking speculation that Putrajaya may have scuppered Mentri Besar Zambry Kadir's gung-ho plan.

Pundits believe Prime Minister Najib Razak, who orchestrated the 2009 coup d'etat against the Pakatan state government, had misgivings about the BN's chances and did not want to risk a loss, which would have severe negative consequences on his own position in his Umno party.


Related Stories:
Najib seen avoiding Perak by-election after DVD charges U-turn...
Drop trumped-up DVD charges against Ong immediately :Teresa Kok...
Perak crisis DVDs:Charge against Tebing Tinggi's Ong deferred...
VIDEO Revisiting the Perak state assembly under thr rain tree...
Tebing Tinggi rep to be charged over 'tree assembly'...