Police are investigating DAP leader Tony Pua under the Sedition Act 1948 over his Facebook posts criticising the Pardon Board’s decision to reduce Najib Abdul Razak’s prison sentence.
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said Pua’s (above) remarks were seditious for criticising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s power to give pardon and inciting others to hate the royal institution.
In a statement, the top cop said police have summoned the former Damansara MP to give his statement to investigators at the Bukit Aman police headquarters at 1pm tomorrow.
“Police confirm receiving reports regarding statements made by Tony Pua on Facebook that insulted the royal institution.
“Such statements were by nature seditious, inciting the public to hate and insult the royal institution over the sole discretionary power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as per Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.
“Investigations are being carried out by the Classified Crimes Unit under the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” Razarudin said.
According to the IGP’s statement, the subjects of investigation include a series of Facebook statuses uploaded by Pua from last week, where he criticised the board’s decision to halve Najib’s prison sentence.
The posts are as follows:
“Trust me. It’s not a scam”
“Oh wow. After all these years, Najib/UMNO cybertroopers still love me...
“I beg your pardon?”
“Can someone send me to jail for 1 year and in exchange, pay me RM50mil? Pretty please?”
“King Klep pardoned!!”
In an immediate response to the news, Pua again took to Facebook to share his sentiment.
"Ah. No escape after all.
"The IGP himself acted very fast, very efficient, working overtime on a Sunday, paying personal attention to the reports, presumably filed by UMNO boys," he said in the Facebook post.
Confirming that he will be at Bukit Aman for the questioning tomorrow, Pua also asked his supporters to wish him luck.
"I'm being investigated for sedition over my 'I beg your pardon' Facebook post.
"Wish me luck!” he wrote.
Disappointments all round
The Kuala Lumpur High Court originally sentenced Najib to 12 years in prison over the RM42 million SRC International corruption case. He was also fined RM210 million.
His conviction and punishments were subsequently upheld in the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.
The Pardons Board commuted his sentence when it met last Monday.
While the reduced sentence places his release date in August 2028, Najib could be released earlier on “good behaviour” in August 2026 after serving two-thirds of his sentence.
Since the decision was officially announced by the Pardons Board on Friday, many others besides Pua have also expressed their disappointment and criticisms for various reasons.
While several politicians and civil society movements have voiced displeasure at seeing Najib's punishment being reduced, some others especially from Umno were also dissatisfied as they believe Najib should have been given a full pardon.
Najib himself had also expressed his disappointment over the board’s decision, which was reached when it was being chaired by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
In an Instagram post yesterday, his daughter Nooryana Najwa said Najib was disappointed that he was not granted a full pardon and only had his prison sentence halved and his fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million. - Mkini
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