Forty-five civil society organisations have raised their protest over the recent charging of PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu with criminal defamation of police personnel involved in the 1950 Bukit Kepong incident.

Two political organisations - Parti Sosialis Malaysia and Selangor Pakatan Rakyat Elected Representatives’ Officers Association - have joined the civil society protest in defence of Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu.

Mat Sabu had allegedly defamed not only the police personnel but their families and three others who had lodged police reports against him under Section 500 of the Penal Code.

He was charged in the Butterworth sessions court this morning and had to post bail of RM15,000 for a speech allegedly glorifying the communists and condemning the police personnel in a ceramah in Tasek Gelugor on Aug 21.

In a statement issued today, the NGOs have expressive their “utter disgust” over the charge against Mat Sabu under Section 500, and his brief detention at the Penang police headquarters last night.

He was released on police bail after collecting his summons to attend court in Butterworth this morning.

“Charging Mat Sabu goes against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s pledge to promote openness and democracy on the eve of Malaysia Day,” said the group, collectively.

“It raises questions over the sincerity of Najib in announcing a series of reforms including ending the necessity for annual permit renewals of newspapers and amending the Police Act, and whether he has full control over the police, or both,” the group added.

The group urged the government to immediately drop the “politically-motivated” charge against Mat Sabu, saying it should stop intimidating dissidents who oppose and challenge official history and ideology.

‘Take up debate challenge’

They urged Najib and and his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin to take up Mat Sabu’s challenge to hold a no-holds-barred TV debate on the Bukit Kepong issue instead of using government machinery to criminalise the latter.

“Similarly, politicians and retired police and military personnel as well as groups like Malay rights group Perkasa can debate with Mat Sabu,” they said.

“Or (they can) expose the flaws of his views through the media or in forums. They should respect Mat Sabu’s right to have opinions differing from theirs,” he added.

The group said that resorting to state power to silence an opponent’s views is an “act of cowardice”.

It shows only insecurity and no confidence to win a debate with facts and reason, they added.

The NGOs said such suppression of freedom is in fact an insult to the independence of this country.

For with independence, Malaysians should enjoy human rights and freedom, unlike subjects of colonies or one-party states, the NGOs added.

The NGOs are:

1. Writers Alliance for Media Independence (Wami)

2. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)

3. Tenaganita

4. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor dan Wilayah Persekutuan (Permas)

5. Komas

6. Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH)

7. Civil Society Committee of LLG Cultural Development Centre

8. National Interlok Action Team (Niat)

9. 528 Media Action Group

10. Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)

11. Malaysia Youth & Students Democratic Movement(DEMA)

12. Community Action Network (CAN)

13. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

14. Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN)

15. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit)

16. Youth Section of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

17. Student Progressive Front USM

18. Student Progressive Front UPM

19. Student Progressive Front UUM

20. Student Progressive Front NEC

21. Persatuan Komuniti Prihatian Selangor (Prihatin)

22. Persatuan Bahasa Tionghua UPM

23. Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM)

24. Youth for Change (Y4C)

25. New Era College Alumni Association

26. Federation of Malaysian Indian NGOs (Prima)

27. Persatuan Alumni PBTUSM Selangor & Kuala Lumpur

28. Northern Region PBTUSM Alumni Association

29. Solidarity for Civil Rights in China (Malaysia)

30. Kempen Sejarah Malaysia Sebenar

31. Kumpulan Aktivis Mahasiswa Independent (Kami)

32. Kolektif 50B

33. Generasi 709

34. Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan (KPRU)

35. Suaram JB

36. Centre for Orang Asli Concerns

37. All Women’s Action Society (Awam)

38. Rainbow Genders Society

39. Social Imagination Workshop

40. Malaysians for Beng Hock Movement

41. Save Vui Kong Campaign

42. Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)

43. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor

44. T’anda Tanya of DurianFM.com

45. Pertubuhan Wartawan dan Jurugambar Akhbar Cina Pulau Pinang (Pewaju)

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