Rais Yatim said something similar to Umany statement, says Bersih

 

© Provided by Free Malaysia Today Bersih 2.0 said former minister Rais Yatim had said something similar to what UM students’ body is accused of.

PETALING JAYA: The electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 has accused the authorities of bias in taking action against student activists over a Facebook post about the King, noting that a former federal minister had also tweeted something similar last month.

The electoral reform group said Rais Yatim had, on Oct 26, suggested that Article 40 and Article 40(1A) of the Federal Constitution had not been complied with when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decided against declaring an emergency, as requested by the prime minister.

“If it was not wrong for Tan Sri Rais Yatim to raise and discuss an issue regarding the constitution, then police need to halt their investigations into the students,” said a Bersih statement.

Bersih criticised the authorities for taking action against those who had offered opinions “in a healthy manner” on issues affecting the country.

It said the use of laws by the authorities was a form of intimidation and went against human rights and the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech.

Rais has held several Cabinet portfolios between 1982 and 2009. He became president of the Senate in September.

Police have begun a sedition investigation against Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) president Yap Wen Qing and vice-president Tan Li Yuan over a Umany posting with the title “Yang di-Pertuan Agong should not interfere in national affairs”.

Universiti Malaya has since said it was investigating the group.

A police report has also been lodged against Rais for sedition.

Earlier today, Umany accused police of excessive force, intimidation and abuse of power after six of its committee members were summoned to the Kajang police headquarters for questioning.

Two days ago, police attempted to search Umany president Robin Yap Wen Qing’s house. This ended with his predecessor, Wong Yan Ke, being detained overnight after he started filming the incident on his phone.