KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 ― An activist who is being investigated for sedition after he started an online petition in support of the “Citizens’ Declaration” said the probe had ironically led to an increase of signatories.
Social activist Azrul Mohd Khalib also told Australian broadcaster ABC News that while the police did not specify the offence he allegedly committed, it was his understanding that the online petition he had launched on www.change.org in support of the Citizens’ Declaration, which calls for the prime minister’s removal, was considered an offence.
“Interestingly enough is that instead of people being fearful or being intimidated by the actions recently of the police, we've actually gotten an increase and uptake in the number of people who have signed on,” Azrul was quoted saying in a transcript of the interview published yesterday on the ABC News website.
“In fact I dare say the number of people has actually increased for those who are finding the hardcopy version of the Citizen's Declaration. So, if they're trying to intimidate and (inaudible) us, having a reverse effect,” he added.
The online petition in support of the Citizens’ Declaration, which was mooted by the bipartisan Save Malaysia movement led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has 51,502 signatories at the time of writing.
Azrul also said the sedition case against him was the result of a police report lodged in Penang.
Police recorded the activist’s statement last Wednesday and confiscated his mobile phone and laptop.
