DAP today urged former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and two Umno parliamentarians to file a motion in Parliament to demand the immediate release of Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang (photo) both of whom were charged with attempting sabotage the country's banking and finance sector.
Describing the arrest of the duo under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) as a gross abuse of power, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang said, Muyhiddin, BN Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Semporna MP Shafie Apdal should sponsor a motion in Parliament to debate their arrest.
"Although the Pakatan Harapan Leadership Council has not met on this issue, I dare say they can be assured of 72 votes from Pakatan Harapan lawmakers," said Lim in a statement tonight.
"The trio should work on securing a simple majority for such a motion, especially from Umno MPs as well as BN MPs in Sabah and Sarawak," said Lim, who is also Gelang Patah MP.
A total 112 votes out of a total of 222 lawmakers are needed to pass the motion, he said.
"Will any MP from MCA, Gerakan and MIC support such a motion? It is for them to speak up," he said.
Malaysians would like to know who apart from Razaleigh, Muhyiddin and Shafie, will vote for a motion in Parliament to condemn the abuse of Sosma against Khairuddin and Chang and to demand their immediate release, he added.
"The question is whether there are Umno or BN MPs who dare to stand out to declare their support if Razaleigh, Muhyiddin and Shafie sponsor the motion" he queried.
The joint press conference today of former prime minister Mahathir and seven veteran political leaders to criticise the unjustified use of Sosma against Khairuddin and Chang was noteworthy, he said.
Two-week notice required
Earlier today, Mahathir and the veteran leaders lamented it was 'shameful' for someone accused of a wrongdoing not to defend himself but to persecute others instead.
Lim said the debate and voting should be scheduled by the end of the month of the next parliament sitting which commences on Oct 19, as a two-week notice is required for any motion to be tabled in the August house.
"I fully agree with Mahathir and the former Umno/ BN government 'big guns' that it was 'shameful' for someone accused of a wrongdoing not to defend himself but to persecute others instead," he said.
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