Lawyers for Liberty has called for inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun to stop "unnecessary" investigations against former journalist A Kadir Jasin under laws that are pending repeal by the Pakatan Harapan government.

The lawyers' group's co-founder, Latheefa Koya, said in a statement today that BN-era-like prosecutions should stop under the new government.

"The IGP must realise that Malaysia is no longer governed by the oppressive BN regime, which had previously persecuted the people for merely exercising their right to free speech. Whoever is affected by Kadir’s article should respond in a civilised manner and not resort to lodging police reports.

"It is also possible for these parties to file civil defamation suits but there is certainly nothing criminal in what he had written," Latheefa said, adding that the IGP must act in consistency with the reform agenda of the new government and not fall back on the BN way of governance.

She further cited that Harapan had already pledged that oppressive laws and provisions found in the Sedition Act, Communications and Multimedia Act, the Penal Code and other laws would be reviewed and abolished.

Yesterday, Fuzi confirmed that Kadir, who is a Bersatu supreme council member, is being probed under the Sedition Act and for defamation, over a blog post claiming that some RM256.9 million was spent for the upkeep and personal expenditure of Sultan Muhammad V in the 16 months since he became the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had also criticised Kadir over his “disparaging remarks” against the rulers, and urged the latter to fact check some of his statements. 

Meanwhile, a fellow former journalist has echoed LFL's stance on the probe against Kadir.

Johan Jaafar said in a statement, said that Kadir may have got his numbers wrong in his writing, but he must be given the chance to prove his facts, instead of being booked for sedition.

"The fact remains that we are living in a different Malaysia today. No citizen must be threatened and intimidated by laws meant to silence those who wish to speak up.

"There are many other laws that can be applied to charge Kadir if need be, but to investigate or charge him with the Sedition Act is totally against the spirit of today’s Malaysia," Johan said, adding that Kadir's sedition probe further warrants that the law be abolished.

"It is ironic that Kadir, a member of the supreme council of the party that is part of the coalition that went to the polls promising to abolish such laws as the Sedition Act and Anti-Fake News Act, is to be investigated under the Sedition Act."