'HINDRAF-ABU Ceramah Attack' video has gone viral
By Dr Paraman,The 7 minute video that captured the attack by a gang of youth on the inaugural HINDRAF and ABU forum at the Dewan Orang Ramai MBSA at Jalan Kebun in Klang on 21/01/2012, has gone viral. A quick check on the various uploads on youtube on just that particular incident by various online news websites as well as individuals, shows that the video has garnered more than 250,000 views in less than 6 days.
The forum was forced to be cancelled for safety reasons when a group of some 20 people had caused a ruckus, waving rods and riding motorcycles into the hall, reported Suara Rakyat Malaysia ( Suaram ) executive director E Nalini. She added that she saw a group of six or seven men beat up a boy with sticks outside the hall. He later required hospitalization.
The 7 minute video provided by Kumanan of HINDRAF, shows in detail the unprovoked intimidation by suspected UMNO supporters on the participants of the forum.The videos that were downloaded on youtube also attracted more than 2000 comments, mostly from people who condemned the perpetrators. Most interestingly, the majority of the viewers appear to be Malay Muslims who had criticized the mob attack by a group of Malay boys who targeted specifically only the Malaysian Indian participants of that forum. The comments in general appears to show a strong sense of resentment directed towards the UMNO government that is seen to be inflaming racial hatred among the various communities in Malaysia to consolidate its rule.
The youtube uploads breakdown are as follows :
- Freemalaysiatoday 123,047 views
- Malaysiakini 45,624 views
- tansrifakhri 24,178 views
- Pemerhatibebas 20,309 views
- LaraBaizura 17,688 views
- lemandecaprio 8,384 views
- AntaraPos 6,483 views
- Lianglahad1 2,657 views
- greenpartymalaysia 2,289 views
- TowkayBandrek 1,979 views
- digi23azlan 1,030 views
In comparison this video has attracted even more viewers than the highly publicized DSAI sodomy trial verdict. MKTV video on 09/01/2012 titled ' Sodomy II verdict: Anwar not guilty' had till date garnered 34,195 views as to MKTV video titled ' ABU-HINDRAF ceramah attacked ' has garnered 45,264 views in less than 6 days !
Even the video on AlJazeera about the famous HINDRAF rally in 2007 titled ' Ethnic Indian protest in Malaysia - 24 Nov 2007' had after 4 years attracted a global view of 464,648 views as compared to more than a quarter million views of the HINDRAF-ABU attack video in just less than 6 days.
This mob attack has also been criticized by SUHAKAM, BERSIH, Aliran, Suaram and various other civil society groups in Malaysia.
It is quite obvious from the widespread condemnation of this crime as well as attention that it has attracted, any similar 'orchestrated' attacks on ABU forums nationwide is going to add further pressure on the ruling government and severely reduce its votes in the upcoming General Elections.