Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should file a defamation suit to defend himself against alleged ownership claims of a house in Kajang as well as luxury cars, instead of involving the police in the matter.
Bersatu legal and constitution bureau deputy chief Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif said it was hypocritical of Anwar to use the same "draconian laws" he and his coalition Pakatan Harapan had fought against in the past to stifle critics now that he is the premier.
"If Anwar is aggrieved by the allegations, it is his right to file a civil suit for defamation.
“When he was in the opposition, Anwar frequently filed defamation suits against his critics. Now that he holds power, is Anwar expecting special treatment by invoking police powers to protect his reputation?
"Anwar must remember that under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, all citizens are equal, whether prime minister or pauper. Like other citizens, he must move the civil courts if he believes his reputation is tarnished," she said in a statement today.
Sasha Lyna was responding to the police report lodged by Anwar's political secretary Ahmad Farhan Fauzi yesterday against Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, former Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan and blogger Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen.
Badrul, better known as Chegubard, had lodged an MACC report on Tuesday, regarding Anwar's ownership of the house in Sungai Long, Kajang.
In addition, he also alleged that the Harapan chairperson was utilising several luxury cars which did not belong to him.
Lawyer Sankara Nair yesterday clarified that Anwar had, in 2020, signed a 10-year lease on the Kajang house and added that the cars, which were loaned to him by friends, have been returned to them after Anwar became prime minister.
Yesterday's report was lodged under Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Let MACC investigate
Elaborating, Sasha Lyna said that Badrul did the right thing by bringing the matter to the MACC's attention.
She said that if Sankara has evidence to prove Badrul's allegations as untrue, he should hand them over to the MACC for further action.
"Instead, why is the prime minister lodging a police report against citizens who are questioning his source of wealth and threatening them with criminal action?
"Further, Badrul did the proper thing by bringing the matter to MACC’s attention, being the relevant enforcement body.
“Is it now a crime to lodge a complaint with the MACC against the prime minister?" she asked.
Sasha Lyna further "reminded" Anwar of his, and his government's promises to crack down on draconian laws previously used by BN to curtail free speech.
"On April 26, 2021, Anwar even quoted Voltaire in a tweet, 'I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the end your right to say it'.
"Has Anwar forgotten his Voltaire?" she questioned.
Sasha Lyna said that Anwar should just let MACC investigate Badrul's complaint, instead of involving the police in the matter.
"We urge him to retract his police report and allow the MACC to do its job.
"We also urge Anwar and his government to cease using draconian laws against critics." - Mkini
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