A Selangor state assemblyperson has been called in by the police for questioning over her statement in relation to Permata, a government-funded early childhood programme.

 

Taman Medan assemblyperson Haniza Talha said she had received a notice from investigating officer Hasbuhullah Muda for her statement to be recorded at the Petaling Jaya police headquarters on Monday.

 

The notice states that it is related to a case involving “sedition”.

 

When asked whether it is regarding her statement on the relatively high Permata allocation in the national budget, Haniza replied in the affirmative.

 

“I am quite sure it is related to that as the officer had shown me a copy of the article where my statement was reported,” she told Malaysiakini .

 

“The officer also said he was acting based on a police report lodged against me.”

 

Haniza, however, did not know the indentity of the person who had lodged the report.

 

“When the officer came around the first time, he wanted to take my statement then and there, but I had to decline as I was  in a  rush to attend a meeting.”

 

The officer then left the notice at her office on Wednesday.

 

'Is Permata needed for pre-schoolers?'

 

Keadilan Daily had quoted Haniza as saying that the rakyat’s subsidy should not be cut just so that RM711 million can be allocated to Permata.

 

Permata is an early childhood programme whose patron is Prime Minister Najib Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor. It runs 600 pre-school centres across the country for kids aged from one and four.

Haniza questioned the need for programme, saying that the country already has an extensive education system for pre-schoolers.

 

She is puzzled as to why her statement could be deemed  seditious as she had merely asked for the allocation to be given in a more transparent manner.

 

“It’s harassment. This is against my right as an elected representative to find out what happens to the allocation. It’s as if I cannot question anything.”