Dog-trainer arrested for Sedition

Shock and outrage greeted news that dog trainer Maznah Yusof had been arrested, and like bloggers Alvivi, slapped with serious charges including breach of the draconian Sedition Act, which carries heavy penalties.

Maznah, also know as Chetz Yusof, was nabbed for purportedly insulting Islam after a You Tube clip showed her washing her dog in a manner that mimicked Muslim ablutions with the Eid prayers and a Hari Raya song in the background.

"This is outrageous. BN and Umno are responsible for stoking this ill-feeling and tension. Maznah has been denied her access to lawyers and I am still waiting to see when they will release her. This hysteria has to stop," her lawyer Latheefa Koya told Malaysia Chronicle.

Latheefa was referring to the media lynching led by Umno newspaper Utusan and the strident promises by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to take swift action against those who "insulted Islam" in response to the video clip.

Muhyiddin had also warned that there would be "tensions" in the country if Islam was insulted, prompting another storm of protest from non-Muslims, who demanded if the DPM was suggesting that other religions could be insulted with impunity.

“Is this a manifestation of the assumption of some quarters that we (Muslims) are weak and that they could walk all over us? Or that we are afraid to react when others insult the sanctity of Islam?" Muhyiddin had said.

“Could they be simply ignorant and not understand the values of faith? No Muslim has made fun of other faiths.”

Denied access to lawyer

As of press time, Maznah was still being interrogated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission at police headquarters in Bukit Aman and denied access to her lawyer.

"This is overkill as usual. The Investigating Officer had indicatad Section 298A, why the need for Sedition Act. These are very serious charges and yet they can bar her from being represented. It is clear breach of the Constitution," said Latheefa.

Kuala Lumpur CID chief Ku Chin Wah has confirmed Maznah was arrested and is being investigated under Section 298A of the Penal Code as well as the Sedition Act.

I love my religion

The 38-year-old Maznah has denied any intention to insult Islam.

"I love my religion. I think these people should learn about their religion first, and not misinterpret my video," Malaysiakini reported Maznah as saying.

"As a religious leader, doesn't he know about Islamic laws? As far as I am concerned, my religion does not forbid me from keeping dogs or caring for them," she added, referring to the cleric in her neighborhood mosque who had condemned the clip.

From pork to dog

The tape, which was made 3 years ago was re-posted on Tuesday. It has since been taken down.

"Why make an issue about it now? I believe this is related to the case of bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee... because initially, those who viewed the video mistook me for a Chinese," said Maznah.

She was referring to bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee who created an uproar with their Ramadan greeting on Facebook that showed them having bak-kut-teh ( a herbal soup made usually with pork but can be vegetarian or even halal (kosher) if made with suitable meats).

The two bloggers were unfairly jailed and forced to stay imprisoned for more than a week. They were also slapped with 3 charges including the Sedition Act.

Alvivi, Maznah - pawns in Umnos game of racial and religious politicking?

To many Malaysians, it appears Alvivi and now Maznah are being used by unscrupulous politicians wanting to stir up Islamic righteousness to portray a holier-than-thou image and win political favor from their party members and supporters.

"Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin expressed concern over racial polarisation in the country “as the trend now is as if the people are getting more hypersensitive," DAP adviser and MP for Gelang Patah Lim Kit Siang said in a statement.

"Muhyiddin is right except that he has himself been the problem instead of being the solution to the problem of racial polarisation.

"Can Muhyiddin play his part in this Malaysian nation-building process? Yes, but he must demonsrate that he is a DPM for all Malaysians and not just for UMNO – that he is Malaysian first, Malay second rather than Malay first, Malaysian second as he had declared when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak unveiled his 1Malaysia signature policy four years ago."

Malaysia Chronicle