Another victim of Sedition Act in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Ten policemen descended on Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM,Socialist Party of Malaysia) secretary-general S. Arutchelvan’s house on Thursday night and held him under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act reportedly for a statement he issued on Feb 10 following Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s conviction on a sodomy charge, according to malaysiakini.

The police also seized his computer, mobile phone and modem.

Under the section, anyone who prints, publishes, sells, offers for sale, distributes or reproduces any seditious publication shall be guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of up to RM5,000 or jail up to three years, or both.

PSM’s Feb 10 statement:

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is appalled with the disgraceful Judgment by the highest court in the nation on Anwar’s sodomy II case. Any person following the trial in the Federal Court would have made a overwhelming foregone conclusion that Anwar is innocent and he will be free man today. This hope was dashed and now in shambles.

The Judgment today further deepens our conviction that the courts are not independent and are politically driven. The Prime Minister department in normal circumstances responds late to any issues but on this issue has already issued a statement very promptly and efficiently. Was this statement already ready before the judgment? One would not need a genius to answer this.

The highest court has unanimously put to shame our criminal justice system and Judiciary beyond repair. It is time people wake up that something is seriously wrong.

The decision today besides creating a political crisis as well as leadership crisis in PR; will also derail real issues faced by the normal rakyat such as the serious increase in prices of goods, the Floods, the dengue epidemic, the implementation of the GST and other real issues. The decision is designed to keep us away from addressing the real issues while the culprits continue to reap huge profit and immense huge power.

It is time to unite against this corrupt system. We stand in unity with PR and Anwar’s family on this.

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty!