KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Legal group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today urged the Attorney-General’s Chambers to review all sedition cases currently pending, following the public prosecutor’s decision to drop a sedition case against Malay Armed Forces Veterans’ Association President Mohd Ali Baharom.
The group said they “cautiously” welcomed the AG’s decision yesterday to drop charges against Mohd Ali – better known as Ali Tinju – but stressed that there are still some 27 other cases pending in court aside from the fact that hundreds of opposition leaders, activists and dissidents have been hauled up and probed over the past few years.
“We view with extreme concern that Ali Tinju, a well-known and ardent government supporter has now been given special treatment by the AG, just like how (Perkasa President Datuk) Ibrahim Ali was also given special treatment when the AG decided not to prosecute him for his speech calling for Malay language Bibles to be burnt,” LFL legal/campaign coordinator Michelle Yesudas said in a statement.
Michelle noted that it was “quite incredible” that the AG cited “insufficient evidence” as the reason for withdrawing the charge against Mohd Ali, when the notoriously low threshold for evidence in sedition cases has been frequently used to pursue cases against activists and opposition politicians.
She reminded the AG that all Malaysians should be treated equally before the law and entitled to equal protection under the law regardless of their political leanings, and that it is the AG’s main duty to make sure this is reflected in the administration of justice.
“It cannot be over emphasised that the AG represents the State, the community at large and the interest of justice, and not just the Government of the Day.
“Needless to say, such double standards merely reinforce public perception that the AG is not independent and acts at the behest of the Government to prosecute the opposition and dissidents for political offences,” Michelle said.
Police arrested Mohd Ali in July for allegedly making a racially-charged speech prior to the riots outside the digital mall in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
A video went viral of a man ― believed to be Mohd Ali ― addressing a group of people gathered in front of the mall and inciting them.
In the video, the man said the gathering in front of Low Yat was to seek justice and to uphold the dignity of Malay youths.
The individual also proclaimed the country to be “bumi Melayu” or Malay land, and that the Malays must be united to stand against “rude DAP Chinese” in the country.
