Suaram worried PN is back to BN's ways of harassing activists

Human rights group Suaram has expressed concern that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) is going back to BN's old ways of harassing activists using repressive laws.

"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 the 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 said in a statement.

It said among the incidents was the police investigation against journalists Tashny Sukumaran who had written about the arrest of undocumented migrants and the probe against Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar under the Sedition Act 1948.

Other incidents include the use of Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 against Centre to Combat Corruption Cronyism (C4) founder Cynthia Gabriel and Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chair R Sri Sanjeevan.

Sevan also noted that five activists from the National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services’ (NUWHSAS) who picketed in Ipoh were arrested and prosecuted.

This is on top of allegations of harassment against political opponents by the MACC.

"These individuals are harassed and punished using repressive laws that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin refused to abolish during his tenure as the home minister.

"This is an affront to the people's struggle for democracy that culminated in the 14th General Election.

"The democratic space reclaimed by the people on May 9, 2018, must not be eroded with the mere change of administration or subverted by the will of unconscionable politicians," he said.

Sevan called for an immediate withdrawal of "politically motivated" investigation and an end to harassment of political opponents.

"Suaram also calls for an independent investigation into the abuses of the current administration in silencing activists and political opponents and call on the parliament select committee to convene at the soonest to address the matter," he said.

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

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