KUALA LUMPUR - Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar must state if Datuk Akbar Khan Abdul Rahman will be investigated for sedition after the former Libaran MP criticised Sabah and Sarawak Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum for a remark made recently in open court, PKR’s Darell Leiking said today.
Leiking, who is PKR vice-president, pointed out that many politicians as well as activists have recently been arrested and detained for sedition over comments made against the judiciary.
Akbar, a former Umno lawmaker of Pakistani origin, had accused Malanjum of making racist remarks in court during a revision application last week against a sentence imposed on five Pakistanis for using false visas and social visit passes to enter Sabah.
Sabah’s Daily Express quoted Malanjum as saying that the five Pakistanis should not be allowed to enter Sabah without proper documents and that the state immigration department should determine if the documents held by every Pakistani in the state were valid.
“Datuk Akbar Khan, a former MP, had given his opinion and demanded Tan Sri Richard Malanjum to apologise over a remark made by a Judge during a court proceeding.
“I believe it is his (Akbar Khan) prerogative as a citizen to make a fair opinion, and hence, this is why we have always upheld the freedom of expression albeit the authorities have taken a differing opinion,” Leiking said in a statement.
Darell Leiking
“However, and in light of circumstances lately in the Federation of Malaysia, I now challenge the police to investigate if the remarks or front page outrage by Datuk Akbar Khan over Tan Sri Richard Malanjum falls under the same so-called ‘seditious’ remarks as were Zunar (SM Anwar Ulhaque), N. Surendran, Christopher Leong and many others since these guys were hauled up by the police and are charged for questioning the judiciary/judges as well, and the police had acted on them as they were deemed seditious by the police,” the PKR leader added.
The Penampang MP said he personally agreed with Malanjum’s remarks, adding that Akbar may have misunderstood what the judge was trying to say.
“So, to Tan Sri of IGP Police [sic], what is your say on this? Or would you want to wait for a police report before investigating, detain and question Datuk Akbar Khan?
“Would the police be applying the same standards done against Zunar, N. Surendran and the many more or is there a different standard applicable?” Leiking asked.
Akbar has also challenged Malanjum to resign as Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak for his remarks last week. - Malay Mail
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