Former Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan was called to the Dang Wangi police district headquarters today to give her statement on her purported remarks on possible street protests.

A police report was lodged under Section 124 of the Penal Code yesterday against Ambiga for her remarks at a press conference, which were reported in The Malay Mail Online .

Section 124 deals with "activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy".

Her lawyer, Latheefa Koya, said using Section 124 in this case was extreme.

"The section refers to activities like terrorism and such. So, to say a press conference and a statement in the news are activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy is very extreme," Latheefa ( photo ) told reporters as they left the police station after Ambiga’s statement was recorded.

She also informed reporters that Ambiga exercised her right to remain silent during the questioning, which also included questions on the planned Bersih 4 rally.

'Lack of accountability is detrimental'

So far, there will be no further action and they will wait to see if the police will proceed with the investigation, Latheefa added.

Ambiga said she did not understand why she was being investigated under Section 124.

"I don't understand how anything that I said or did (at the press conference) was detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

"What is detrimental to parliamentary democracy is a lack of accountability of our parliamentarians and our ministers to the people," she said.

Ambiga also wondered if Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar would be as efficient on the 1MDB investigations as he was about her purported remarks.

"We don't see him taking immediate action (on 1MDB matters) as he does against activists who just try to do something genuine for this country," she noted.

Street protests not unlawful

At a press conference two days ago, Khalid called on Ambiga to explain if she had said street protests would be held unless MPs acted to suspend the Najib administration.

When she refused to communicate with him through the press, Khalid then said they would file a police report against her.

However, Ambiga said there was nothing wrong with calling for street protests.

"What is the Peaceful Assembly Act? The Peaceful Assembly Act is for peaceful assemblies," she said.

Chiming in, Latheefa said asking the prime minister to step down because of investigations involving him does not equate to toppling the government.

"There must be a clear line drawn between what is toppling the government and what is asking a prime minister, who is being investigated, to go on leave or to step down or not to get involved in the whole investigation process.

“The term (toppling the government) has been used too often lately," Latheefa said.