Rayer seeks explanation into probe on Bentong MP's aide

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer has demanded that the police and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail provide an explanation over the probe on Bentong MP’s aide, Noor Suhana Ishak.

This comes after Suhana, who is an aide to Young Syefura Othman, was summoned by the Muar police over a tweet allegedly linking Umno Youth to a ruckus that took place at a Muda ceramah in October last year.

“What was so offensive about her tweet?

“Shouldn’t the police be investigating whether the commotion at Muda’s ceramah last year actually took place, and who was behind it?

“Shouldn’t the police charge the parties involved in starting the commotion instead of investigating the person who made the tweet?

“Why are the police wasting time, energy and resources on investigating her?” Rayer (above) questioned.

Suhana took to Twitter yesterday to announce that she was summoned by the Muar police to give a statement over her tweet.

She will be giving her statement at the Sentul district police headquarters at 2pm tomorrow.

In her tweet dated Oct 16, 2022, she said she had “heard” that Umno Youth was behind the commotion that took place at Muda’s ceramah.

“When someone says they ‘heard’ of such claims, there is a possibility that the claims are either correct or false. I never said it was Umno Youth,” she said in a Twitter thread.

Also summoned by the Muar police over the same allegation was Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s former communications head Farhan Iqbal. Farhan is now a press officer to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.

Farhan was summoned to give his statement at the Putrajaya district police headquarters tomorrow.

The pair are being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, said Suhana.

Section 500 carries imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.

An offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, meanwhile, is punishable with up to one-year imprisonment, a fine up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.

‘Puzzled and shocked’

Meanwhile, Muda information chief Luqman Long is “puzzled and shocked” that police have summoned Suhana.

He said investigations should focus on the “mastermind” behind the provocation at the Muda ceramah.

“What is the development of police's investigations into this case?

“Investigating Suhana is a waste of time, which should be used to uncover the true mastermind,” he added in a statement this afternoon.

Malaysiakini previously reported that October’s “Mega Muar” ceramah was briefly interrupted by a group of 20 youths, who had instigated a shouting match between them and Muda members and supporters.

The incident took place during Syed Saddiq’s speech where he talked about his contributions to his constituents in the previous term.

The rowdy youths had repeatedly accused the Muda president of being a “penipu” (liar), which caused party supporters and volunteers at the ceramah to shout at them to “balik” (go back).

Despite being told to leave the area by the auxiliary police present, the youths lingered at the scene and attempted to induce further noise by revving up their motorcycles.

Farhan later told reporters the group was suspected to have been sent there by Umno Youth.

However, this was later denied by Muar Umno Youth chief Helmy Abdul Latif who said no instruction was given to instigate the commotion and rejected all forms of provocation in politics. - Mkini