Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has tabled a resolution in the state legislative assembly today to condemn the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) and its use against Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah.

Lim said Maria, a 60-year-old mother of three, is not a terrorist or a politician. Maria filed a habeas corpus application this morning to challenge her detention under the Act and sought her immediate release.

Lim urged the state assembly to also condemn Maria’s 28-day detention without trial and her solitary confinement in a windowless jail.

Maria was arrested on the eve of the Bersih 5 rally in Kuala Lumpur, which saw thousands of yellow-shirts and about 4,000 red-shirts rally peacefully, with no untoward incidents.

“It is inhumane. She should be released unconditionally immediately,” said Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, while tabling the resolution.

“All Malaysian citizens, except the federal government and BN, know Maria is not a terrorist and was not involved in any violence. She is merely a leader for Bersih 5, which promotes five demands,” he added.

The five demands included free and fair elections, a clean government, the strengthening of Parliament democracy and the empowerment of Sabah and Sarawak.

Lim reminded the federal government that when it tabled Sosma in Parliament in 2012, it guaranteed that the law would not be used against political opponents.

This was underscored clearly in Section 4(3) of the Sosma Act which states “No person shall be arrested and detained under this section solely for his political belief or political activity.”

Lim added: “Yet, anti-BN politicians like Khairuddin Abu Hassan (former Umno Batu Kawan deputy chief) and his lawyer Mathias Chnag were held under Sosma.

“It is clear that just like (the now defunct) ISA, Sosma is abused and used against politicians and activists.”

Lim questioned why Maria was held under Sosma when the Bersih rally was peaceful.

He also queried why the anti-Bersih red-shirts leader Jamal Mohd Yunos was only remanded for four days, even though he had earlier threatened violence against his rivals.

"Treating someone who is peaceful like a terrorist is like trying to change black into white and vice-versa," Lim said.

“Therefore, let this honourable House urge that Maria be released immediately so that Malaysia will be clean and free.”