Bersatu member allegedly probed under Sedition Act

 

Police are allegedly investigating a Bersatu member under the Sedition Act 1948 for reposting a post critical of DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang on her social media account.

Bersatu Legal and Constitution bureau deputy chief Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif alleged that officers from Bukit Aman travelled to Penang to detain the party member.

She said police personnel were “given instructions” to detain and remand Penang Srikandi Muda information chief Norhanani Abu Hassan for several days.

Norhanani, who is seven months pregnant, is also allegedly being investigated under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA).

“All her gadgets, including her mobile phone and laptop, were seized, and the police have taken over her social media account, which is being monitored.

“The police told Norhanani that they are on the lookout for more people regarding their investigation,” Sasha said in a statement.

When contacted, Sasha said another Srikandi Muda member in Besut is also being investigated under the Sedition Act for reposting a post critical of Kit Siang.

She could not confirm if it involved the same posting.

Malaysiakini has contacted Bukit Aman for confirmation.

Many rights groups have claimed that the Sedition Act of 1948 and the CMA laws are being used to crack down on an individual’s right to freedom of expression.

Sasha claimed that investigating Norhanani amounted to an “act of hypocrisy” by the current government.

“For the whole time when Harapan was the opposition, the then government would be criticised again and again for using the Sedition Act against their opponents and the public, with calls made to abolish the said Act.

“When the Harapan government was in power in 2018, DAP’s deputy chairperson Gobind Singh Deo called for the law to be abolished since it has been the party’s position on the said Act and maintained its position.

“He even said that ‘the law was subject to abuse and had been used to stifle political dissent’.

“Why are he and his colleagues silent now?” she questioned.

Sasha also questioned if the current government led partly by Harapan leaders has changed its tune on the Sedition Act, now using it against the opposition and its supporters.

Sasha claimed Lim had also posed arguments against the Sedition Act in his blog in 2015 but is silent now when it is used to defend him. - Mkini