Police probe over UK civil suit 'difficult to understand', says Ambiga

Former Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan appears to be perplexed with regard to the police's decision to investigate her in relation to claims made in a defamation suit filed by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown in the UK.

However, she pointed out that the investigation comes in the wake of a “concerted effort” by parties linked to the claimant in the civil suit to “harass and intimidate” her.

“It is difficult to understand how a defence which mentions me and is taken by a defendant to resist a defamation action filed voluntarily by a Malaysian politician in a London court, (and thus protected by absolute privilege), can constitute a criminal offence in Malaysia.

“There is also a lack of appreciation that harassing and intimidating a potential witness is viewed seriously in any court and would be tantamount to contempt,” she added in a statement issued this evening.

Earlier today, it was reported that the police are investigating Ambiga following a police report lodged by Umno grassroots movement chairperson Zulkarnain Mahdar.

It was also reported that the investigations are under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998 for causing public alarm.

Section 505(b) is for those who make, publish or circulate any statement, rumour or report with the intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the state or against public tranquility.

This is in relation to Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown's defence statement filed on Oct 11 which named Ambiga as her source for an article which suggested that PAS received some RM90 million from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Commenting on the police's investigation, Bersih chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah had also expressed puzzlement over the section being used.

“I personally do not see what alarm has been raised in Malaysia through Rewcastle-Brown's defence when she named Ambiga as one of her witnesses,” she said in a statement.- Mkini