Anwar latest target of sedition dragnet

VIDEO | 7.04 mins

The Sedition Act crackdown continues with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim being the latest to be investigated over remarks uttered three years ago.

According to PKR legal adviser Latheefa Koya, the probe concerns a speech he delivered during a political rally in Gombak.

Newly appointed Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali was also investigated over the same issue.

"Azmin's statement had already been taken in 2011, but looks like they (the police and the authorities) are re-opening the case," said Latheefa (right).

She said the police are scheduled to record Anwar’s statement on Friday at the PKR headquarters.

PKR's Padang Serai MP N Surendran, who himself is facing two charges under the Sedition Act, would accompany Anwar when his statement is taken.

The case has been classified under Section 4 of the Sedition Act.

Anwar was scheduled to launch the DNA (Datuk Najib Altantuya) campaign at the ceramah held near Taman Melawati on March 25.

Pandemonium erupted when the police light strike force stormed the ceramah some 15 minutes into his speech before an audience numbering around 1,500.

Anwar has already been sentenced to five-years jail by the Court of Appeal, which found him guilty of sodomy and overturned the earlier acquittal by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Besides Azmin, the police also recorded statements from Hulu Klang assemblyperson Saari Sungib and Batu Caves assemblyperson Amiruddin Shari.

A smear on moderate Najib's image

Meanwhile PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the sedition charge against Anwar reflected poorly on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's image as a moderate Muslim leader.

"His (Najib's) image consultants are busy labelling him as a Muslim leader who promotes democracy and moderation, even though these labels don't reflect reality," he said in a statement.

Quoting Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan, Nik Nazmi added that Najib and his ministers have a moral responsibility to God and man to ensure the freedom of others.

"To be free is to protect the freedom of others and their dignities," he quoted Tariq as saying.