Cops recorded Isham Rais' statement over blog entry on Agong

Social activist Hishamuddin Rais spent almost two hours at Dang Wangi district police headquarters today to have his statement recorded over an allegedly seditious article on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad which was uploaded onto his blog in June.

Speaking to reporters outside the police headquarters, Hishamuddin questioned the investigation which is being carried under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

He was accompanied by his lawyer Zaid Malek.

"My statement was taken under those two sections. This is something that we cannot accept because the Pakatan Harapan government has been planning to abolish the Sedition Act as well as improve the Communications and Multimedia Act," said Zaid on behalf of his client.

Zaid said police recorded Hishamuddin's statement after an individual in Rembau, Negri Sembilan lodged a report against the alleged blog post.

Hishamuddin maintained that his blog was hacked and he did not produce the blog post concerned.

He said this was the first time he was being investigated for it although several NGOs had lodged a similar report against him in June.

In the said blog entry, Hishamuddin is said to have revealed the alleged amount spent by the government on the monarch which veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin had also uploaded onto his personal blog.

Hishamuddin had lodged a police report on the matter claiming that the article had been uploaded onto his blog without his knowledge.

'Breaks its promises'

He questioned when the government was going to repeal the Sedition Act as stated in its manifesto.

"The question is whether the government will repeal the Sedition Act. If it's repealed and an amendment is made to Section 233 (of the Multimedia and Communication Act), a change will happen in Malaysia.

"If the (Sedition) act is not repealed, it means the government has broken its promise and I will campaign through my blog that the Harapan government breaks its promises," Hishamuddin said.

In June, police also opened an investigation paper on Kadir Jasin following his claim that the government spent RM256.9 million in 16 months on expenses for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V.

Kadir said his post on the Agong was “just his personal view.” -Mkini