Cops call up PSM leader Jeyakumar over ex-AG Thomas' remarks at forum

PSM chairperson Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj has been summoned by Bukit Aman to give a statement based on a police report lodged against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas in relation to a forum last month.

The “Dark Forces Towards GE15” forum was held on Sept 17 and Jeyakumar (above), a former two-term Sungai Siput MP, has been called in to give his statement on Thursday.

“The police action is yet another waste of public funds and reflects the reality of the term dark forces towards GE15.

“PSM strongly believes that Thomas and other speakers are entitled to their opinion and the forum allows people to pose questions and even disagree with the speakers.

“That is how a mature democracy works,” said PSM’s deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan in a statement today.

He added his belief that summoning people who spoke in a public forum goes against the spirit of free speech and freedom of expression as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

“The police should instead spend our tax money on other better things for the benefit of the people and not entangle itself in the political vendetta of certain quarters,” he said.

‘Irresponsible, insensitive’ remarks

Following the forum, the National Professor’s Council (MPN) hit out at Thomas who suggested that the opposition play up the issue that a “Malay government” had failed.

The council’s president, Raduan Che Rose, said Thomas’ remarks were “very racist” and warned him against racially profiling the government.

Thomas was reported as saying that Dr Mahathir Mohamad had stepped down from office in 2020 and made way for two governments over the perception that the government was not Malay enough.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also criticised the remarks, saying that they were “irresponsible and insensitive”.

In a statement later, police secretary Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin confirmed the police has called Jeyakumar for questioning.

“The investigation is conducted by the Classified Crimes Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Department, Bukit Aman, under Section 505(c) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” she said.

Section 505(c) Penal Code pertains to statements that may “incite any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community of persons” and the offence is punishable with a fine, up to two years imprisonment, or both.

Section 233 of the MCMC Act, meanwhile deals with the abuse of network facilities.

Upon conviction, the offence under this section is punishable with up to an RM50,000 fine, up to one-year imprisonment, or both.

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