Ramkarpal Wants Preacher S Offensive Post Against Hindus Removed

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Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has called for swift action against Zamri Vinoth, urging for the removal of the Muslim preacher's post comparing Hindus chanting during Thaipusam to people who are “possessed or intoxicated”.
The DAP lawmaker warned that if Zamri's post is not removed, it can cause further harm.
"The insults and mocking of the Hindu religion by Zamri in a recent social media post must be condemned and investigations with a view to prosecute him should commence without any delay.
“A failure to do so will likely result in him creating further unrest and tensions between communities of different religious beliefs in this country.
"There can be no doubt that Zamri’s comments on his post, in which he touched on the Hindu practice of carrying the kavadi during Thaipusam are grossly irresponsible and insensitive,” Ramkarpal (above) said in a statement today.
The matter was further aggravated, he said, by the fact that such comments were made so soon after the incident of Era FM DJs insulting Hindus, but at least the latter apologised for their behaviour.
He added that action must be taken on Zamri to prevent claims of selective prosecution against comedian Harith Iskander and Cecelia Yap, who were recently fined over jokes made online about the “ham” sandwich issue.
Preacher Zamri VinothRamkarpal said Zamri's comments violated Sections 504 and 505 of the Penal Code, which criminalise intentional insults to breach the peace and statements conducive to public mischief respectively.
Action can also be taken against the preacher under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998, he added.
Rayer lodges report
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer lodged a police report against Zamri last night.
"This act by Zamri is a deliberate act to stoke racial tension and cause disharmony in this peaceful country," Rayer said on Facebook.
RSN Rayer at the police station to lodge his report last nightThe DAP parliamentarian urged the police to act against the preacher mocking Thaipusam and linking the mockery with the Seafield temple riot in 2018, which resulted in the death of a firefighter.
‘Possessed, intoxicated’
Zamri had claimed in a social post that people do not find it insulting when “Hindus chant ‘vel vel' and dance as if they are possessed (macam orang kena rasuk) while intoxicated (mabuk todi)."
He argued that others were merely imitating Hindu practices, yet Hindus take offence when this happens.
"If you find it upsetting, then stop doing it so that others won’t follow.
“If you choose to continue, then don’t be offended (when others mock it). So, pick one," he stated.
The preacher also posted an image with the caption that read chanting “vel vel” does not lead to a loss of life like what happened to firefighter Adib Kassim, who died during a riot outside a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor, in 2018.
The chant "vel vel" invokes the Hindu deity Lord Muruga and is often chanted during Thaipusam when a person is taking the kavadi.
Zamri was commenting on the incident involving three radio announcers from Era FM being investigated over a TikTok video showing one of them dancing while another chanted “vel vel”.
The DJs, who have since apologised, were also suspended pending police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission investigations. - Mkini

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