KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 —Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail must quit his office as attorney-general (AG), Lim Guan Eng said today, reiterating his accusation that the government lawyer was abusing the Sedition Act to silence opposition leaders.
The DAP secretary-general asked why the AG had insisted on charging DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok with sedition over her “Onederful Malaysia” video when similar action had not been taken against others who have openly used violent language to criticise minority groups here.
Lim cited Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali and Islamist group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) as examples, noting that both escaped punishment even after issuing racially-charged remarks touching on the sensitivities of the country's non-Muslims.
“The AG should resign for abuse of powers, practicing double-standards and selective prosecution against DAP leaders,” the Bagan MP said in a statement.
Kok was charged with sedition yesterday for allegedly mocking the country’s armed forces and education system with her controversial Chinese New Year video titled “Onederful Malaysia”.
The Seputeh MP's 11-minute satirical clip which took potshots at topical issues including the education system, had caused a stir among government supporters who interpreted it as an affront to Malaysia and its leaders.
But Lim maintained today that this was a “vicious lie” and repeated his party's pledge to defend Kok to the last.
He questioned the authorities' inaction against Ibrahim who had openly called last year for the burning of Malay-language bibles containing the word “Allah”.
Lim also pointed to the latest “outrageous” claim by Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman, who had said yesterday that the influx of Chinese migrants into Tanah Melayu had been “a mistake” and must be rectified.
In his remarks on the group's website, Abdullah said the Chinese were considered intruders on Malay land, and were brought by British colonialists to oppress the Malays.
“The Chinese entered this country together with the British invaders as intruders. Who gave them citizenship and wealth until their intrusion is protected until today?
“Those were all done by the British, who were conspiring with the Chinese to oppress and bully the Malays,” he said.
Despite his party's opposition to the Sedition Act, Lim insisted today that Abdullah's remarks were in clear violation of the law.
He asked if the AG plans on taking action against the Islamist group, pointing out again that action against Kok had been swift.
“How then can the Attorney-General be fit to hold office and function impartially to uphold the law when there is such travesty of justice and double-standards?” he asked.
