The police today questioned PKR organ Keadilan Daily ’s editor and journalist over an article involving PKR vice president Tian Chua’s comments on the Lahad Datu conflict.

NONE Editor Fazallah Pit told Malaysiakini when contacted, that she and the journalist Aisha Geoffrey are with their lawyer Eric Paulsen at Petaling Jaya Police Headquarters to give their statements.

They are being quizzed over the article titled ‘Insiden tembakan di Lahad Datu konsporasi terancang Umno’ (Gunfight incident in Lahad Datu and Umno’s conspiracy).

Paulsen said they were being investigated according to Section 500 of the Penal Code related to slander.

He said they were questioned for roughly an hour starting 2.30pm.

The police team from Johor posed the duo 20 questions.

“After this, the police will call up the Keadilan Daily subeditor and possibly Tian Chua himself,” said Paulsen.

NONE Among others, the article had written that the Lahad Datu incident “is believed to be a conspiracy planned by Umno to divert the attention of the public and to scare them”.

Chua however maintains that he was speaking of the media blackout over the incident and the conspiracy to blame the incursion on PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim. 

He denied making the allegedly slanderous statement, saying it was not his direct quote. 

From the beginning of the almost month-long Lahad Datu crisis on Feb 12 that soon spread to neighbouring villages, a total of eight policemen and 53 enemies have been killed and another three captured.