PAS rep files motion to free Sungai Siput MP

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By Clara Chooi

A PAS MP filed an emergency motion notice to Parliament today, calling for the immediate release of Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, currently under remand for allegedly “waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong”.

Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) confirmed with The Malaysian Insider this afternoon that notice had been given to the office of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia this morning.

“We, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs, stand behind a man who was chosen by the people. He fights not only for the rights of those in Sungai Siput but for the entire country.

“You (the police) have [prevented] an MP [from] serving his duties in the House. In any democratic country, no parliamentarian should be mishandled like this. We are very unhappy and we want justice,” he told a joint press conference earlier today with other Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs.

He said the Speaker will decide on the motion by Wednesday.

During the press conference, PR lawmakers expressed their disgust at Jeyakumar’s arrest and those of 30 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activists on Saturday.

The group was picked up in Penang for their involvement in a roadshow linked to Bersih and accused of attempting to revive communism. They were detained under Section 122 of the Penal Code for “waging war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong”.

The law was used to prosecute militant terrorist group Al Ma’unah, which was involved in an audacious arms heist at an army camp and a tense stand-off in the jungles of Perak in 2000.

Under Section 122 of the Penal Code, “whoever collects or attempts to collect men, arms or ammunition, or otherwise prepares to wage war with the intention of either waging or being prepared to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any of the Rulers or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or abets the waging or the preparation of such war, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 20 years, and shall also be liable to fine.”

PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan, however, claimed today that the event in Penang on Saturday — “Kempen Udahlah Bersaralah” — was not directly connected to Bersih.

“It has nothing to do with Bersih, although we support Bersih and had leaflets on the rally, our event had been planned a long time ago,” explained Arutchelvan.

PKR’s Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar said the use of Section 122 on the activists was an attempt by the authorities to intimidate and silence opposition dissent.

“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those now detained,” she said.

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