Police seize Malaysiakini laptop in sedition probe

Police have seized a laptop from news portal Malaysiakini as part of an investigation into constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari's comments in the website that are considered seditious to the Selangor sultan.

Two police officers from Shah Alam district police headquarters paid a second visit to Malaysiakini's office in Bangsar yesterday afternoon, more than a year after the investigation began.

The duo questioned Bahasa Malaysia section assistant editor Mohd Jimadie Shah Othman (far left in photo) for some 20 minutes before taking away the laptop he used to check the email from Abdul Aziz.

Police said that their forensic department and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would examine the laptop.

It was not known how long it take for the laptop to be returned.
“We urge the police to return our laptop as soon as they have completed their probe. Our job is affected by the seizure of the laptop and the police should be aware of that,” Malaysiakini chief editor Fathi Aris Omar said.

Both Malaysiakini and Abdul Aziz have been under investigationunder Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 since October 2011, after Umno's Senator Ezam Mohd Noor lodged a police report, saying Abdul Aziz's comments published by the portal were seditious and a threat to peace and order.

The former lecturer, who said he aims to be PKR's parliamentary candidate for Sabak Bernam, is being investigated for his statement questioning the Selangor sultan's intervention in the Damansara Utama Methodist Church issue after the raid conducted by the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department enforcement officers.

Ezam claimed that Abdul Aziz (right) was being rude and had committed treachery against Malay rulers by making such comments against the Selangor sultan.

In October last year, MCMC and the police questioned Abdul Aziz, Jimadie and former Bahasa Malaysia section assistant editor Wee Yu Meng.

Wee was questioned for the second time on Monday.
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