The DAP has questioned the double standards practised by the Malaysian authorities in dealing with Penang-born tycoon Low Taek Jho.

Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Low, better known as Jho Low, made headlines internationally again when The Wall Street Journal reported that US authorities intended to file criminal charges against him.

The charges against Jho Low and two others are for allegedly being involved in money laundering activities related to 1MDB.

“Why is there no investigation against Jho Low? The BN government must ask him to come home, and if he refuses to do so, cancel his passport, unless he has one from another country, in which case his citizenship should be revoked,” Lim said.

Lim, who is Penang chief minister, compared this with police action against former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau, who was arrested on Monday, for insulting Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

Hew had allegedly created a poster that contrasted the live action Disney movie ‘Beauty and the Beast’ with Najib and Rosmah.

Hew or ‘Superman’, as he has also been referred to, is often known for using crude language during his ceramah sessions. He was released from the Kulai district police station in Johor today, after a four-day remand order.

During his detention, Hew went on hunger strike and was admitted to the Kulai Hospital.

Lim said the party does not agree with Hew’s “rude language” and he could be charged in court for it.

“Let the court decide, but a four-day remand is excessive and an abuse of power,” Lim said.

He said Hew has not stolen money or robbed anyone, to be handed a four-day remand order.

What about those who insulted the CM?

If such is the standard imposed by the police, Lim questioned why then there was no action against those who insulted him.

Lim recalled that he was not only insulted as a DAP or Pakatan Harapan leader, but as chief minister as well.

He queried why there were no arrests or remand orders against those who insulted him, even though they hurled rude words against him.

“We should not allow such double standards to go on. When a person insults a Pakatan leader, there would be no action against that person, but when a BN leader is insulted, there would be arrests and remand orders,” he said.

Lim said the arrests and remand orders were an attempt to create a “climate of fear” in Malaysia.

“Tourism Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz said this is not a police state, so let’s not make Malaysia a police state,” he added.