MP for Batu Tian Chua has pleaded not guilty to Sedition charges pressed against him by Prime Minister Najib Razak's government for allegedly linking the ruling Umno party to the Lahad Datu intrusion.
"These are politically-motivated charges and I will clear my name through the court," Tian told the court as he pleaded not guilty.
Bail was set at RM5,000-00. Flanked by supporters, lawyers and colleagues from his PKR party, Tian slammed the authorities for picking on him.
"It is like they are not sure what to do," Tian had told Malaysia Chronicle as he was whisked into the courtroom.
The case was due to start at 9m at the Jalan Duta Court Complex, but only began around 11.30am.
Conspiracy there was but against whom?
The 50-year-old Tian is a first-term MP, an amiable person and very popular with the people. His face is easily recognizable to the man in the street and they usually rush up to ask to take a photo with him.
Tian's full name is Chua Tian Chang and he hails from Malacca, the oldest of 4 siblings born to a Hakka rice trader and a Chinese school teacher.
Tian was accused of linking the shooting of two policemen during the March 1 raid on the Sulu gunmen to Umno. His comments carried in the KeadilanDaily portal had alleged that the shootout in Kampung Tanduo was an Umno conspiracy to divert the attention of the people and frighten them.
Tian - who stands by his comments - has clarified that the remarks were unrelated to the shooting. According to him, when the KeadilanDaily report was published, the authorities had yet to confirm the raid or the fatalities.
Tian has also said by "conspiracy" he was alluding to the talk that had been buzzing around town at least 3 weeks before the raid took place that Najib was intentionally delaying the resolution of the intrusion because he wanted to capitalize on the issue to scare Sabah voters into backing the BN during the 13th general election.
The Keadilandaily editor and reporter have already backed up Tian's claim in their statement recently given to the police.
Apart from linking Umno to the conspiracy, Tian was also accused by Umno bloggers of saying at a ceramah or political rally in Puchong that the policemen had died unnecessarily or "mati katak".
The comment is considered as being insensitive and disrespectful to the sacrifices made by the policemen who were killed in the line of duty. Tian has again denied the accusation, showing proof that he was in Johor taking part in a fundraiser at the time the Umno bloggers had alleged he had uttered the "mati katak" comment.
MORE TO COME
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.