Zahid Hamidi promises action against hair cutting culprit
KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has promised a strict action against those responsible for cutting the hair of a Sikh national service trainee.
He also requested the police to get to the bottom of the case as soon as possible as it involved a sensitive issue.
“If an individual is guilty of this, the person must apologise to the boy’s family and National Service and Training Department (NS). If he has commit any offence, then action must be taken,” he told reporters after launching the film series “Beret Hijau” Thursday.
Dr Ahmad Zahid’s statement came 24 hours after NS director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kecil said investigations into the case showed there was no malice intended in the incident.
Basant Singh, 17, on Tuesday had complained that his hair which had not been cut since birth and which was about one metre long had been snipped by about 60cm while he was sleeping with 10 other NS trainees at the Sungai Bakap camp in Penang.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said police investigation was necessary to determine whether a criminal act was involved in the incident.
Dr Ahmad Zahid also urged the Sikh community to accept the findings of the police.
“We do not wish to touch on the sensitivities of any religion or culture. To the Sikh, I assure you that it is not the policy of any NS camp or its trainees to criticise others’ religious practices,” he said.
In a related development MIC urged NS to apologise to the Sikh community over the incident.
Its president Datuk G. Palanivel said NS officials must apologise for allowing a the incident to happen under their watch as it was a serious matter.
“The turban and the growth of a Sikh’s hair from young are sacred matters to the community. An apology would be timely to help resolve this issue,” he told reporters after attending the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves Thursday.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/20/nation/20110120163644&sec=nation
KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has promised a strict action against those responsible for cutting the hair of a Sikh national service trainee.
He also requested the police to get to the bottom of the case as soon as possible as it involved a sensitive issue.
“If an individual is guilty of this, the person must apologise to the boy’s family and National Service and Training Department (NS). If he has commit any offence, then action must be taken,” he told reporters after launching the film series “Beret Hijau” Thursday.
Dr Ahmad Zahid’s statement came 24 hours after NS director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kecil said investigations into the case showed there was no malice intended in the incident.
Basant Singh, 17, on Tuesday had complained that his hair which had not been cut since birth and which was about one metre long had been snipped by about 60cm while he was sleeping with 10 other NS trainees at the Sungai Bakap camp in Penang.
Dr Ahmad Zahid said police investigation was necessary to determine whether a criminal act was involved in the incident.
Dr Ahmad Zahid also urged the Sikh community to accept the findings of the police.
“We do not wish to touch on the sensitivities of any religion or culture. To the Sikh, I assure you that it is not the policy of any NS camp or its trainees to criticise others’ religious practices,” he said.
In a related development MIC urged NS to apologise to the Sikh community over the incident.
Its president Datuk G. Palanivel said NS officials must apologise for allowing a the incident to happen under their watch as it was a serious matter.
“The turban and the growth of a Sikh’s hair from young are sacred matters to the community. An apology would be timely to help resolve this issue,” he told reporters after attending the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves Thursday.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/20/nation/20110120163644&sec=nation
