Subang MP R. Sivarasa speaks to the press after being questioned by the police at the Dang Wangi headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Kamal Ariffin, October 16, 2015.
PKR lawmaker R. Sivarasa will be charged next Tuesday under the Sedition Act for his involvement in the #KitaLawan rally held seven months ago to press for the release of former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The police called Sivarasa to the Dang Wangi police headquarters today for questioning over his involvement in the rally held on March 7 in the capital city Kuala Lumpur.
Sivarasa, who is the Subang MP, was accompanied by his lawyer G. Sivamalar.
“Their investigation was over my speech and they said it was seditious.
“After they questioned me, I was given a notice asking me to go to the Sessions Court in Jalan Duta on October 20, as I will be charged under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948," he told reporters outside police headquarters.
Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act covers “uttering any seditious words” and if convicted under the charge, he will face a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years’ prison, or both.
Previously, Parti Amanah Negara Youth chief Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar was also charged under the same law for his speech made during a street protest in February leading up to the #KitaLawan protest.
Sivarasa had reportedly said during the protest that the #kitalawan rally had sent a clear message, that the people do not want a judiciary "controlled by the government".
In his speech given outside KLCC shopping centre, Sivarasa also reportedly said the judiciary had again been used by Umno.
Sivarasa today said the sedition charge against him was part of a continuous effort by the Barisan National government to silence those who criticised the system and public institutions, such as the police, Attorney-General's Chambers and the judiciary.
"But we will not keep quiet as this is our responsibility to voice out against the oppression.
"This is the political risk and sacrifice that needs to be made to bring about change in the country," he added.
Last month, eight people, including opposition lawmakers and activists were charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) for participating in the March 28 #kitalawan rally.
They were PKR's Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah, Teja assemblyman Chang Lih Kang, Semambu assemblyman Lee Chean, activists Mandeep Singh, Adam Adli Abd Halim, Fariz Musa and Rozan Mat Azen, who is the PKR Batu MP's assistant.
All eight were charged under Section 4(2)(c) of PAA on the right to organise or participate in an assembly, under which a person is deemed to have committed an offence if he or she organises or participates in a street protest.
PKR held a series of #KitaLawan rallies earlier this year to protest against the jailing of Anwar, the goods and services tax (GST) and the Barisan Nasional leadership.
- TMI
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