PKR MP urges review of police SOPs after Sanusi's 3am arrest

A PKR MP has urged for a review of the police's standard operating procedure (SOP) pertaining to the arrest of suspects, following the 3am detention of caretaker Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

In making the suggestion, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin (above) pointed out that Sanusi is a menteri besar who does not pose a flight risk.

"Our country has its set of laws. Offenders will be investigated by the police, and if there is proof, they will be charged in court, and convicted. That is the law.

"Sanusi is crude in his ceramah - he insults the royalty, and causes a split in the multiracial society. He should be investigated, and charged if there is evidence against him," Sim said in a statement today.

The former deputy minister noted that while he respects the police force's independence and professionalism in carrying out its duty, the SOP when arresting suspects can be fine-tuned to suit the current reality.

"Arrests at 3am are not fair. Sanusi is a menteri besar. He is not a flight risk. He could have been arrested in the morning or evening, and not at midnight.

"Police SOPs which were set during the emergency area should be reviewed, in line with the Malaysia Madani principles.

"Malaysia practises the rule of law, but Malaysia is also a Madani government," Sim said.

Early morning arrest

Sanusi, who is also Perikatan Nasional election director, was arrested at a hotel in Mont Kiara, at 3am today.

He was later slapped with two charges of sedition at the Sessions Court in Selayang over his ceramah on July 11.

According to the first charge, Sanusi said the Kedah sultanate was the only one in the country with uninterrupted lineage and that the Kedah ruler would not have appointed Amirudin Shari as menteri besar to head the state’s administration.

On the second charge, Sanusi questioned if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had indeed decreed that a unity government be formed after the parliamentary election last November.

Sanusi claimed trial to both charges and was let off on RM5,000 bail for each charge. Both judges also allowed the prosecutors' application to impose a gag order on Sanusi, preventing him from discussing the trial in public.

Both cases are set for pre-trial proceedings on Oct 4.

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