I refer to the Malaysiakini report Protesters stop Bar's 'conversion' forum .

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar has repeatedly said that the forum as organised by the Bar Council must respect the wishes of the majority in questioning the issues of disputes arising out of conversion to Islam.

The government nor the courts can effectively solve the problem so the people should resolve the problem, since the racially and religiously-biased administration has refused to solve it.

The forum did not go against any law and further, it has every right to peacefully and intelligently discus the problem in a well-organised manner. It was even held in an enclosed area.

However, a mob protesting the forum was allowed to use a public address system to threaten the forum organisers and participants.

The police, in their ever-failing duty condoned the wishes of four or five mob leaders to barge into the forum and this escalated into an almost direct physical skirmish.

What kind of crowd control was that? What kind of law enforcement was that? Is that the ‘discretionary powers’ of the PDRM at work? So we see selective persecution and selective brutality being committed against those not of political interest.

Now back to Syed Hamid. The statement he gave directly means that whatever the law may be, the wishes of the majority rule, period. Can you imagine if that is the law of the land? What would Malaysia be?

I thought democratic and constitutional rights belonged to each and every Malaysian citizen and not to a group or any majority for that matter.

Further, if the majority of citizens feel it is against their interest, do we then allow the majority to take a stand in sidelining law and order?

The answer is ‘yes’ because the police supported and allowed the mob to proceed with their agenda. Where were the water cannons? Where was the FRU? Surely police intelligence would have known of a protest gathering way in advance.

If the majority is to have their own way, why bother with parliament? Why bother with allowing freedom of worship? Why bother with civil courts? Why bother with Tamil and Chinese schools? Lets us all be ruled by syariah law.