KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — Three more people will be hauled up for sedition over comments made in relation to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy conviction on Tuesday, as police crack down on Internet users over remarks critical of the decision.
According to a report by theSun yesterday, those being investigated include Jingga 13 chief Fariz Musa, Parti Sosialis Malay (PSM) secretary-general S. Arutchelvan, and Penang state exco Dr Afif Bahardin.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was reported as saying that Fariz will be investigated allegedly for inciting street protests, Arutchelvan for claiming political conspiracy in Anwar's case, while Afif had purportedly asked the public to no longer trust the judiciary.
"I had issued the warning, now it is time to enforce the law against those who breach and attempt to breach public order. They will be investigated for instigating the people to take to the streets," Khalid was quoted as saying by theSun.
Yesterday, cartoonist Zunar or Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque was remanded for three days after he was arrested over a Twitter post that mentioned the judiciary and political masters.
Other than the cartoonist, Khalid also ordered police to investigate DAP MP Nga Kor Ming and PKR MP Rafizi Ramli for sedition, both for tweets on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s conviction.
Putrajaya had previously pledged to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 that critics say is used to stifle political opposition and dissent, but later announced that it will be retained and expanded instead.
The Federal Court on Tuesday upheld the Court of Appeal’s 2014 ruling that had reversed Anwar’s acquittal of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, also sentencing him to five years’ jail.
