Dalbinder Singh Gill, the nephew of the
late Karpal Singh, will most likely be charged under the Sedition Act in
February, but he will not be sitting at home worrying about the matter.
The
24-year old law student is now selling home made burgers at his friend
Abu Hassan’s stall in Gurney Drive, in the evenings, apart from helping
his dad run a hotel on the island.
The burger stall, where you can find him flipping grilled chicken is named “Street Grill”, which reflects his aspirations to be with the people, to seek for change, he said.
“At the rate the country is going with the sedition arrests, one day selling burgers may also be seditious,” he laughed, when Malaysiakini met him along Gurney Drive last night.
Dalbinder is one of the 20 odd individuals - including academicians, activists, opposition politicians, journalist and preachers who were hauled under the Sedition Act last year.
He said the Attorney-General's chambers informed him of the possible charges when he contacted them to request for the return of his iPhone5 and iPad mini.
“These were seized when I was told to show up at the police station on the night of Sept 30. I won’t be getting them back as they will be tendered as evidence in court,” he said.
Dalbinder was arrested and quizzed for several hours at the Northeast District Police Headquarters along Jalan Patani for his Facebook posts questioning bumiputera rights and the institution of the monarchy.
Northeast
District police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrah said Dalbinder was arrested
by the Cyber Crime Department in Kuala Lumpur, under Section 4(1) (C)
of the Sedition Act, for publishing or reproducing seditious
publications.
If convicted, he faces a fine of not more than RM5,000, or up to three years' jail or both.
While he is ready to face the music, Dalbinder is somewhat concerned that the matter may interfere with his 2nd year LLB exam in May, which recently cost him RM4,500.
He is disappointed that the government continues to oppress its citizens with the Act, which Prime Minister Najib Razak had planned to abolish in 2012.
However, Najib u-turned on his promise to repeal the Act, and instead declared last year at his Umno AGM that the government would “strengthen and fortify” the law.
“In school we were told to speak out, to be critical but when we leave school, things are so different. There is no freedom of speech,” he lamented.
“One of the best thing about being young is the desire to express ourselves, to be vibrant and energetic in sharing our views, but in this country, it cannot happen,” he added.
Asked if he experienced sleepless nights pending his possible charge in February, Dalbinder said “I have no problems sleeping as my conscience is clear”.
“Next month, I do not know where I would be sleeping but it is okay. The struggle to free Malaysia must go on”.
‘We are like brothers’
During the interview with Malaysiakini, two of Dalbinder’s friends, whom he met when participating in the activities of the Youth Parliament, dropped by to visit him.
Ahmad
Fazley, 22, who works as a caterer and lives in Bukit Gelugor, says he
is saddened that the police plans to proceed with the charge against
him.
“Dalbinder studied in London, and the society there is very open, including acceptance of inter-faith marriages,” he said.
“Students like Dalbinder should be given the chance to explain himself and be given a warning first for his actions, not to repeat his mistake, if any, before any drastic action like arrest, be taken against him,” he added.
Sylvester Yau, 24, who runs a printing business in Sungai Pinang, said he has befriended Dalbinder only recently but they have grown fond of each other, “like brothers”.
“During our free time, we will go around Penang on my Honda Wave and we will discuss ways to improve the island and the state,” Yau said.
“Our friendship is beyond race or religion and politics. We help each other and look out for one another,” he added.
“I feel sad that he has to be hauled up for sedition charges just for his Facebook postings. Dalbinder should be given a chance as he is still young.”
The
24-year old law student is now selling home made burgers at his friend
Abu Hassan’s stall in Gurney Drive, in the evenings, apart from helping
his dad run a hotel on the island.The burger stall, where you can find him flipping grilled chicken is named “Street Grill”, which reflects his aspirations to be with the people, to seek for change, he said.
“At the rate the country is going with the sedition arrests, one day selling burgers may also be seditious,” he laughed, when Malaysiakini met him along Gurney Drive last night.
Dalbinder is one of the 20 odd individuals - including academicians, activists, opposition politicians, journalist and preachers who were hauled under the Sedition Act last year.
He said the Attorney-General's chambers informed him of the possible charges when he contacted them to request for the return of his iPhone5 and iPad mini.
“These were seized when I was told to show up at the police station on the night of Sept 30. I won’t be getting them back as they will be tendered as evidence in court,” he said.
Dalbinder was arrested and quizzed for several hours at the Northeast District Police Headquarters along Jalan Patani for his Facebook posts questioning bumiputera rights and the institution of the monarchy.
Northeast
District police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrah said Dalbinder was arrested
by the Cyber Crime Department in Kuala Lumpur, under Section 4(1) (C)
of the Sedition Act, for publishing or reproducing seditious
publications.If convicted, he faces a fine of not more than RM5,000, or up to three years' jail or both.
While he is ready to face the music, Dalbinder is somewhat concerned that the matter may interfere with his 2nd year LLB exam in May, which recently cost him RM4,500.
He is disappointed that the government continues to oppress its citizens with the Act, which Prime Minister Najib Razak had planned to abolish in 2012.
However, Najib u-turned on his promise to repeal the Act, and instead declared last year at his Umno AGM that the government would “strengthen and fortify” the law.
“In school we were told to speak out, to be critical but when we leave school, things are so different. There is no freedom of speech,” he lamented.
“One of the best thing about being young is the desire to express ourselves, to be vibrant and energetic in sharing our views, but in this country, it cannot happen,” he added.
Asked if he experienced sleepless nights pending his possible charge in February, Dalbinder said “I have no problems sleeping as my conscience is clear”.
“Next month, I do not know where I would be sleeping but it is okay. The struggle to free Malaysia must go on”.
‘We are like brothers’
During the interview with Malaysiakini, two of Dalbinder’s friends, whom he met when participating in the activities of the Youth Parliament, dropped by to visit him.
Ahmad
Fazley, 22, who works as a caterer and lives in Bukit Gelugor, says he
is saddened that the police plans to proceed with the charge against
him.“Dalbinder studied in London, and the society there is very open, including acceptance of inter-faith marriages,” he said.
“Students like Dalbinder should be given the chance to explain himself and be given a warning first for his actions, not to repeat his mistake, if any, before any drastic action like arrest, be taken against him,” he added.
Sylvester Yau, 24, who runs a printing business in Sungai Pinang, said he has befriended Dalbinder only recently but they have grown fond of each other, “like brothers”.
“During our free time, we will go around Penang on my Honda Wave and we will discuss ways to improve the island and the state,” Yau said.
“Our friendship is beyond race or religion and politics. We help each other and look out for one another,” he added.
“I feel sad that he has to be hauled up for sedition charges just for his Facebook postings. Dalbinder should be given a chance as he is still young.”
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