Free thosai outside deputy police chief's house

First, there were burgers, and then buttocks... and on Sunday there will be thosai.

Taking deputy inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar on his word, a group of vocal Indian NGOs has decided to give out free thosai outside his house in Ampang, from 10am that day.

Assuring Malaysiakini that it means business, WargaAMAN secretary S Barathidasan said the NGOs would meet tonight to sort out costing and logistics.

However, Barathidasan stressed, it would not be a protest event, nor would it be linked in any way with the 'burger protest' in front of Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan's house last week.

"It's actually an awareness campaign. Thosai is healthy food and a common Indian breakfast. We want to promote it," he said when contacted.

The group chose to set up the stalls outside Khalid's house in Taman Bukit Teratai as they "respect" him.

"He has said that stalls can be set up in front of people's houses and we respect what he said."

Healthy breakfast for all

Barathidasan added that the group would be seeking a permit from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council for the stalls, and would likely still go ahead if it is turned down.

"We just want to give people a healthy breakfast. We're not selling anything," he said of the event that is likely to include thosai-making classes as well.

Last week, a small traders' association, Ikhlas, set up a burger stall giving out free burgers in front of Ambiga's house in protest, claiming that the April 28 Bersih 3.0 rally caused them heavy losses.

Khalid had later said that the protest was not a criminal offence and did not intrude upon Ambiga's privacy as the traders did not enter her house.

"Well, there is no offence. What offence? If you want to sit in front of her house without disrupting other people, there is no offence," Khalid told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur..

However, he later clarified that it may be an offence under local council laws and that he personally does not agree with intrusions upon personal privacy.

Yesterday, a group claiming to be army veterans conducted 'butt exercises' in front of the house in Bukit Damansara to protest against Ambiga and accused her of smearing the country's good name.