Anti-Sedition Act movement Gerakan Hapus Akta Hasutan (GHAH) has demanded the Attorney General (AG) Gani Patail and Inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar to come clean.

It requests they explain to the public the meeting with 60 Malay leaders, including heads of Umno divisions, on Aug 14.

 
“According to Suaram's documentation, only six cases of investigation and four cases of prosecution (under the Sedition Act) pre-dated the meeting.
 
“The spike of cases of investigation and prosecution raises questions and concerns whether the AG and IGP are now acting as political tools of Umno division leaders,” said GHAH spokesperson Yap Swee Seng, of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).
 
GHAH also called for a meeting with the AG's chambers to seek an explanation on the matters of selective prosecution of dissenting voices and for the closed door meeting with the Umno division leaders.

 

Yap said this was in line with the group's intention to  file a petition from the people to the Parliament via a member of Parliament.
 
The petition calls on Parliament to review the abuse of the Sedition Act, the violations of human rights under this law, and for it to be repealed.
 
“We urge members of the public to come to Parliament to support the submission of the people's petition,” Yap ( right ) told a press conference at Pusat Komas in Petaling Jaya today.
 
The petition will be an official document filed under Standing Order 19 of the Dewan Rakyat.

 

“GHAH hopes to receive at least 10,000 signatures to the petition before it is submitted on Nov 11.
 
“The petitioners will have the right to go into Parliament to hear their petition read out,” Yap ( right ) said.

 

'Double standards'

Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Eric Paulsen condemned the practice where the AG's chambers had objected to some sedition cases being postponed and others to proceed.

 
“The AG's chambers must have a consistent policy. D ouble standards are being practised when the AG’s chambers did not object to Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president's Abdullah Zaik's sedition trial postponement today.
 
“To be fair to everyone, all sedition cases should be postponed pending the constitutional (challenge) hearing on the Sedition Act.
 
“We also condemn the counter-appeal by the AG's Chambers against the sentences on activists Adam Adli and Safwan Anang to have longer jail terms imposed on them,” Paulsen ( left ) said.
 
He said the move to enhance the jail terms imposed on the two activists by the AG’s Chambers was  unfair and showed that the AG has “failed in his duty as a public guardian of law and order”.
 
“The jail sentences against Safwang (10 months) and Adam (12 months) are very serious and severe for mere speeches that amounted to nothing,” Paulsen stressed.
 
Conviction under the Sedition Act carries a jail term of up to three years, a fine of RM5,000, or both.

Related stories

Ibrahim: Bible-burning call only for Muslim parents

Activist told to enter defence on sedition charge

Over 11,000 petition to drop Isma chief's charge

Isma chief's sedition case postponed

Mob made up of 'Umno gangsters', says CM

Police did not stop Penang fracas, says NGO

'AG must be fair and hold all sedition cases'

Nov 5 date for Azmi's challenge to Sedition Act