MALAYSIANS UNLIKELY TO EMULATE RED SHIRTED PROTESTORS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Information, Communications and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim scoffed at a suggestion that Malaysians would take to the streets, just like the red shirted protesters in Thailand.

He advised the people not to do what Thai protestors had done as the law
against rioting in this country was specific and clear.

"If the law is broken, the authorities will take action," he told reporters
after visiting the Information Department here Wednesday.

Rais said in Malaysia, the people were given an opportunity to give their
opinions.

He was commenting on a local Harakah Daily report on April 11 quoting
opposition Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS)secretary-general Kamaruddin
Jaafar as saying that Malaysians would resort to street demonstrations like the
red shirted protestors in Pattaya if the northern state of Perak State Assembly
was not dissolved.

Describing Kamaruddin's remarks as instigating a demonstration, Rais said he
could not say for certain whether the statement could be regarded as seditious
until it was studied.

Seditious remarks can be investigated under Section 3 or 4 of the Sedition
Act 1948 or Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, he added
-- BERNAMA