'Back to BN era' - MP says after cops call over comments made last year

Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa has been summoned by police over a comment he made last year.

"Last year, I made a comment in Malaysiakini about the arrests under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act that supposedly involved the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"I also explained my views about the deep state's role. I have now been summoned to the Sungai Buloh district police headquarters on Wednesday.

"It's like we've gone back to the BN era," he said in a post on Twitter.

In November last year, Sivarasa (above) who was at the time the deputy rural and regional development minister, had suggested that the "deep state" played a role in the decision to charge 12 people for purported links to the defunct Sri-Lankan-based separatist group, designated as a terrorist organisation by Putrajaya.

The PKR lawmaker said this was because the decision to prosecute was made while the attorney-general was away for two weeks.

Among those charged were two DAP assemblypersons G Saminathan and P Gunasekaran.

Sivarasa Rasiah@SivarasaRasiah

Tahun lepas saya beri komen di Msiakini berkenaan tangkapan di bawah SOSMA yang kononnya melibatkan LTTE and menjelaskan pandangan saya berkenaan peranan “deep state”. Skrg diarahkan hadir di IPD Sg Buloh hari Rabu utk siasatan. Macam kembali ke era BN.

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1:32 PM - Jun 8, 2020

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Human rights group Suaram last Saturday also expressed concern that the Perikatan Nasional government was adopting BN era tactics.

The news of activists and politicians subjected to repressive laws and facing harassment by state agencies was the hallmark of the BN regime when they were in power prior to the 14th general election.

"The resurgence of such incidences in recent days suggests that the PN administration is no different and is willing to abuse its authority and strongarm state institution against legitimate activities of activists and political opponents," Suaram executive director D Sevan had said.

The Pakatan Harapan government collapsed in late February after Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin pulled his party out of the coalition.

Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1, after he put together a new coalition comprising Bersatu, PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and Star.

-Mkini