Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has sounded the alarm following a police probe into the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) CEO Pushpan Murugiah.
It claimed the police questioning went far beyond the initial allegation linked to an email relating to attempts to topple the government.
LFL executive director Zaid Malek, who is also Pushpan’s lawyer, said Pushpan was summoned for questioning after his name appeared in an email connected to allegations that a “high-powered individual” was involved in efforts to destabilise the government through an international media organisation.
According to Zaid (above), his client had expected the questioning to focus solely on the email.
“However, based on the questions posed, 81 in total, they went beyond the ambit of the email,” he said outside Dang Wangi police station yesterday.
Zaid said investigators questioned Pushpan about his personal background, credibility, sources of funding, whether he was paid for his work, and the process through which he issued public statements.
“They were essentially grilling him on his role as an expert and as CEO of C4 Center,” he added.
Zaid did not mention any names but made clear references to a Bloomberg exposé on MACC’s alleged collusion with “corporate mafias”, which prompted a police report that led to the probe under Section 124B of the Penal Code.
Subsequently, Na’imah Abdul Khalid, the widow of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, denied any form of effort to topple the government.
She also said that any attempt suggesting she was behind the Bloomberg exposé involving MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki is not only irresponsible but also an insult to the journalists concerned.
Quizzed on sources
Zaid further added that investigators asked whether Pushpan had verified information before issuing statements and attempted to identify his sources.
“The troubling aspect is that this was not simply about his name appearing in an email. The police appeared to want to know what C4 Center and other civil society organisations are doing, how they carry out their work, and who funds them,” he said.
The lawyer stressed that C4 Center had operated under multiple administrations and had consistently issued statements on corruption regardless of which party was in power.
“That is true of many CSOs. From what we understand, the list of individuals mentioned includes people from CSOs as well as political commentators,” he said.
He questioned why individuals were being investigated merely for issuing statements on corruption or matters of public interest.
“Is the government now trying to police who can be considered an expert and who is allowed to issue statements on matters of national interest?” he asked.
Draconian provision
Zaid also criticised the use of Section 124B of the Penal Code in the investigation, which relates to activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
He described the provision as “draconian” and said it infringes on freedom of speech and association.
“All this is happening because of the issue surrounding Azam,” he said.
Zaid highlighted that one of the questions posed to Pushpan was whether his statements were directed at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Azam, or the MACC.
“Anwar, Azam or MACC are not parliamentary democracy within the meaning of the law under Section 124B,” he argued.
“If the logic is simply that issuing negative statements about the government indicates an intention to topple it, then anyone criticising the government could be investigated under Section 124B,” he said.
He warned that if criticism of the government were treated as attempts to topple the administration, it could lead to wider investigations targeting critics.
On Feb 27, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail confirmed police have launched an investigation under Section 124B of the Penal Code into an alleged conspiracy to topple the government and sabotage the country’s stability. - Mkini
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