The party feels that this is selective persecution by the police who solely decide what is seditious or otherwise.
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has demanded the immediate release of its Secretary-General S Arutchelvan and the dropping of all sedition charges against him.
Fifteen policemen descended on Arutchelvan’s house in Kajang Thursday night and held him under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act reportedly for a statement he issued on February 10 following Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s conviction on a sodomy charge. http://partisosialis.org/en/node/3215
The police also seized his computer, mobile phone and modem.
The PSM, in a statement, deplored the heavy handed action of the Dang Wangi Police Station where Arul was taken for the night. The police, according to PSM’s Jeyakumar, will apply to the Magistrate’s Court on Friday under section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for remand.
“A request to Arul to come to the police station would have been sufficient,” said Jeyakumar. “Surely the time of the 15 police officers could have been better utilised to combat crime!”
“Furthermore, the police decided to make this arrest during the Chinese New Year public holidays.”
There is no need at all to lock up Arul overnight, or to ask for one or more days of remand, he added. “PSM members are prepared to co-operate with police investigations.”
The police are clearly attempting to intimidate the public by using the Sedition Act of 1948 — an Act formulated by our colonial rulers to suppress the freedom of speech and opinion – stressed Jeyakumar. “The police are attempting to clamp down on any criticism of the Barisan Nasional administration.”
“We would like to remind the police and their BN masters that 2015 is quite different from 1948, and attempts to intimidate the public will backfire.”
According to the arresting officer, disclosed Jeyakumar, Arul was being arrested under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act which reads: Any person who prints, publishes – - – or reproduces any seditious publication shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM5000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years.
In his February 10 statement, said Jeyakumar, Arul criticised the Federal court judgment, saying the courts were not independent and were politically-driven. “Soon after the IGP tweeted that Arul would be investigated for his ‘seditious’ statement!”
“Court judgments are usually open to comment by lawyers and legal academics.”
PSM feels that this was selective persecution by the police who solely decide what is seditious or otherwise.
fmt
KUALA LUMPUR: The Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has demanded the immediate release of its Secretary-General S Arutchelvan and the dropping of all sedition charges against him.
Fifteen policemen descended on Arutchelvan’s house in Kajang Thursday night and held him under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act reportedly for a statement he issued on February 10 following Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s conviction on a sodomy charge. http://partisosialis.org/en/node/3215
The police also seized his computer, mobile phone and modem.
The PSM, in a statement, deplored the heavy handed action of the Dang Wangi Police Station where Arul was taken for the night. The police, according to PSM’s Jeyakumar, will apply to the Magistrate’s Court on Friday under section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code for remand.
“A request to Arul to come to the police station would have been sufficient,” said Jeyakumar. “Surely the time of the 15 police officers could have been better utilised to combat crime!”
“Furthermore, the police decided to make this arrest during the Chinese New Year public holidays.”
There is no need at all to lock up Arul overnight, or to ask for one or more days of remand, he added. “PSM members are prepared to co-operate with police investigations.”
The police are clearly attempting to intimidate the public by using the Sedition Act of 1948 — an Act formulated by our colonial rulers to suppress the freedom of speech and opinion – stressed Jeyakumar. “The police are attempting to clamp down on any criticism of the Barisan Nasional administration.”
“We would like to remind the police and their BN masters that 2015 is quite different from 1948, and attempts to intimidate the public will backfire.”
According to the arresting officer, disclosed Jeyakumar, Arul was being arrested under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act which reads: Any person who prints, publishes – - – or reproduces any seditious publication shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM5000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years.
In his February 10 statement, said Jeyakumar, Arul criticised the Federal court judgment, saying the courts were not independent and were politically-driven. “Soon after the IGP tweeted that Arul would be investigated for his ‘seditious’ statement!”
“Court judgments are usually open to comment by lawyers and legal academics.”
PSM feels that this was selective persecution by the police who solely decide what is seditious or otherwise.
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