KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 ― Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar denied today allegations that the police practice selective prosecution by only targeting comments made by opposition leaders of social media like Twitter.
He said the police would take the same action on leaders from the ruling Barisan Nasional government if critics can prove that the latter had made comments that warranted arrest.
“The problem is only that group is causing trouble. That's why it looks as though I only take action against them.
“Show me one tweet from Barisan Nasional (leaders) that action has to be taken. If there is, we will take the same action,” he told a press conference during the 208th Royal Malaysia Police anniversary.
An active user of Twitter, Khalid has been regularly using the microblogging social network to order the police to investigate individuals or groups using the Sedition Act.
But his public directives have drawn allegations of selective action to target government critics such as activists and opposition lawmakers.
The Sedition Act was also used to arrest PKR MP Nurul Izzah Anwar over a speech she read on behalf of jailed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Parliament, prompting concern by opposition lawmakers that they will be muzzled even within the confines of the lower house.
Khalid previously claimed that the high-profile enforcement led to a decline in instances of sedition online.
PKR had filed a motion in the Dewan Rakyat earlier today calling for Khalid's sacking for his alleged failure to perform his duty impartially.
