Cops summon S'wak activist over article criticising PM's anti-Israel policy

Police have summoned Sarawakian activist Francis Paul Siah for questioning over a Facebook article, in which he criticised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for provoking Israel.

Siah said he was contacted by one Inspector Firdaus of Bukit Aman this morning who said there were 11 police reports lodged against his Nov 13 posting titled “PMX, Stop Provoking Israel”.

In a statement, the Movement for Change Sarawak (MOCS) leader questioned the investigation against him and stressed that it was within his right to disagree with the prime minister.

“I wish to categorically state here that I have not done anything wrong nor have I broken any law in my recent post on Facebook, other than to state my disagreement with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on his purported intention to call for the sacking of Israel from the United Nations.

“Perhaps, it is necessary for me to remind our politicians that freedom of speech, as enshrined in many democratic constitutions, protects the right of individuals to express their opinions, even when those opinions disagree with or criticise political leaders, including the prime minister or his government’s policies,” he said.

Adding further, Siah called the probe against him an abuse of public institutions by “political parasites and leeches” to silence government dissenters.

“Public institutions like the police are tasked with upholding the law impartially and protecting the rights of all citizens, including those who dissent or criticise the government.

“When they are misused for political purposes such as targeting activists, journalists, or opposition figures, it represents an abuse of power and a violation of civil liberties,” he said.

Malaysiakini has reached out to Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain for comments.

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