HOW FAR MORE WILL TMJ GO TO PROVOKE MAHATHIR & THE GOVT: IN WARNING SHOT, PAKATAN TO LET COPS DECIDE WHETHER JOHOR CROWN PRINCE HAS BEEN ‘SEDITIOUS’ IN HIS ATTACKS AGAINST DR M & HIS GOVT

PUTRAJAYA will let police decide whether remarks by Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim were seditious in nature, said Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman.

“I am no lawyer (to deliberate on the matter). It is up to police to look into the matter,” he told the Dewan Rakyat this morning during Question Time.

Azis was asked by opposition backbencher Ismail Mohamed Said (Kuala Krau-BN) on whether the remarks by Tunku Ismail – popularly known as TMJ – could be categorised as seditious.

“Lately the people have been restless. We have to honour the rulers. We also must respect the prime minister,” the Umno lawmaker said.

“There have been many posts on social media that indicate some conflict. The people are feeling it too.

“Can the words used by TMJ be categorised as seditious? Will the government take action? With what mechanism, can action be taken, considering that it can affect political stability and the prime minister’s credibility?”

Ismail did not state which remark by the outspoken crown prince he was referring to, but Tunku Ismail had been engaged in a tit-for-tat social media war of words with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad over various issues recently.

The latest saga has been over the resignation of Johor Menteri Besar Osman Sapian.

On Tuesday, Dr Mahathir said Tunku Ismail was free to state his views as a Malaysian but, like any ordinary citizen, was subject to action if he broke the law.

“He can speak about anything like a normal citizen, can criticise the government as long as he doesn’t break the law. If he makes statements which can be considered seditious, we will take action against him,” Dr Mahathir said.

Tunku Ismail replied to the remark with a confrontational tweet: “Go ahead. If I have to go down for upholding the constitution, the Malay rulers and Islam, by all means. You know where to find me.”

Earlier, in an answer to Maria Chin Abdullah’s (Petaling Jaya-PH) question on the consultations with civil society to draft a new bill to replace the sedition act, Azis reiterated the government’s intention to abolish the security law.

He said consultations had been done with various groups, including the Malaysian Bar, academics, law experts and the Conference of Rulers.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT