Mystery over Kit Siang’s ‘sedition arrest’ remark

Gobind Singh says LKS called up for a statement but reasons remain unclear.

PETALING JAYA: There was uncertainty today about the possible arrest of Lim Kit Siang, the DAP’s parliamentary leader, after he made a remark in a speech on Saturday that he expected to be arrested for sedition “in the coming days”.

Gobind Singh Deo, secretary of the DAP’s legal affairs bureau, told FMT today that Lim had been called up for a statement “but the reasons remain unclear”. It could not be immediately confirmed which police unit had called up Lim.

Gobind said that Lim would “most likely” be giving his statement next week.

On March 8, several police reports were lodged against Lim, Mohamad Sabu, president of Parti Amanah Negara, and Malaysiakini about a news report about the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal address to Parliament. An activist alleged that comments by Lim and Mohamad, quoted by Malaysiakini, had insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Lim had said the speech had been prepared by the government and did not reflect the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s personal views.

Last night, in a speech at a Perak DAP dinner in Ipoh, Lim had said that he expected to be arrested. The text of his speech carried the title “I will be charged under the Sedition Act in the new repression against dissent” and Lim spoke about various actions that had been taken against the party in the past.

He then referred to allegations of corruption made against his son Lim Guan Eng over the purchase of a double-storey bungalow in Penang for RM2.8 million which Umno MPs have said was below market price.

Saying that Guan Eng, who is party secretary-general, had come under incessant attack, Kit Siang added: “I will be charged under the Sedition Act in the new repression against dissent”. But he gave no other details about any offence or investigation, or new government action against dissent.

In his speech Lim had urged DAP members to be prepared for new challenges over the next 30 to 50 years from “those who are doing their utmost to demonise and destroy the DAP leadership” and prevent the DAP from growing in strength.