MADPET's Media Statement Release 2 Wakil Rakyat (Elected Peoples’ Representative) Detained under SOSMA was reported in this news report below
NEWS
Guan Eng: Cops assured no more arrests of DAP reps in LTTE crackdown
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the police informed him that
no more DAP leaders will be arrested in relation to a police crackdown
on alleged Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) elements in Malaysia.
This
is after police arrested seven people, including DAP's Malacca exco G
Saminathan, who is also the Gadek assemblyperson and Seremban Jaya
assemblyperson P Gunasekaran over their alleged links to the LTTE,
claiming that the Sri Lankan rebel group was planning an attack on the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia.
"I was also informed that whilst more people will be arrested for alleged links to LTTE, no more leaders or wakil rakyats from DAP will be targeted," he said in a statement today.
Earlier
today, DAP's Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who has been
public about his sympathies for ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka, conceded
that he too may be arrested but was unfazed, stating that it was no
different from his sympathies for the Rohingyas in Myanmar, and Muslims
in Mindanao and Palestine.
Lim said the arrests were
shocking and had expressed to the police that the DAP believed in the
innocence of its two assemblypersons after a briefing from the police.
"Their
involvement in the DAP so far has shown no indication that the two were
involved in any activities that departed from the party’s stand of
moderation, non-violence and peaceful resolution," he said.
Lim
noted that the police claim to have "concrete proof" to make the arrests
and had "referred to all relevant authorities at the highest level"
before taking action.
He said DAP will provide a legal team to
assist the two DAP leaders led by Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer.
"The police promised a speedy investigation
to allow for the submission of their investigation papers to the
Attorney-General Chambers and enable our two DAP leaders to be released
early.
"The police also promised to provide the families and legal counsel access to our two legislators.
"Both
our legislators were praised by the police for co-operating fully and
calmly with the police during their arrests," he said.
However, lawyer Haniff Khatri (above),
who has acted for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, criticised Lim's
statement, stating that it could create a negative perception.
"How
can the police give information that no more DAP elected
representatives would be targeted when the investigation has yet to
conclude?" he said in a statement.
Hanif said it is natural for
political parties, particularly those in power, want to ensure that its
elected representatives are not entangled in serious allegations such as
terrorism.
However, he stressed that Harapan leaders should not
make any statements that could give rise to the suspicion of government
interference.
"While Harapan may be affected by the terrorism
allegations, it must always uphold the rule of law and distance itself
from any action or statements that could lead to a negative perception
that the government is interfering in the rule of law," he said.
Detention without trial criticised
Meanwhile, the Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) criticised the detention without trial under Sosma.
"It must be reminded that the police has power to investigate without even arresting or detaining any suspects.
"Our
former premier Najib Abdul Razak, during the investigations (on the
1MDB scandal), was never detained in police lock-ups demonstrates how
Malaysian police can still proceed with investigations without even
resorting to remand orders and certainly not Sosma," said Madpet
spokesperson Charles Hector.
Charles said Sosma is vague and its
definition of "security offences", and possession of books or even
activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy, that are not
clearly defined, are considered offences.
He said it should have at least been limited to offences involving violence and firearms.
"Malaysia
ought to respect justice and human rights, which also means that one is
presumed innocent until proven guilty after a fair trial.
"This
also must include the needed checks and balances to prevent police
abuses, which includes the right to be brought before the magistrate
within 24 hours of arrest, and the right to be further remanded only if
the Magistrate allows for it after according the right to be heard to
all parties, the right to be remanded at any one time in accordance to
the limits now in the Criminal Procedure Code, the right to bail and the
right to a fair trial.
"Sosma is an affront to justice and human rights, and it should be immediately repealed.
"Every
one arrested, charged and tried should be accorded the same rights and
standards as provided for in our Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence
Act," he said. - Malaysiakini, 10/10/2019
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