DAP assemblyperson Ronnie Liu has come under the crosshairs of the police following a Facebook post on the protest in Thailand with regard to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
In a statement this morning, federal CID director Huzir Mohamed said Liu’s post might contain seditious elements against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He cited Liu’s caption in the post which included several photographs of the protest. The caption reads, “Now in Bangkok. They are saying no to the king.”
It also has Chinese text which reads: “Current situation in Bangkok”.
Huzir said the police are probing the Sungai Pelek assemblyperson under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 for allegedly causing hate or insult to any ruler or the government.
Liu would also be investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities.
A screenshot of the posting had been making the rounds with calls to reject DAP. One netizen had questioned if Liu was instigating Malaysians to question the rulers as well.
Meanwhile, Liu told Malaysiakini that the posting was made two weeks ago.
The assemblyperson said he would be going to the Petaling Jaya District police headquarters at 10.30am tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Huzir said the police are also investigating three other social media users for making similar remarks against the Agong.
In an immediate response, the Centre of Independent Journalism condemned the police investigations as an infringement of freedom of expression and right to dissent.
It urged the government to stop the use of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the CMA, saying that such repressive laws should be repealed or amended such that it cannot be used to arbitrarily stifle all manner of speech.
“The use of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the CMA have been highly criticised as being archaic and repressive in nature as it goes contrary to the promotion of freedom of expression.
“CIJ reiterates its position that the Sedition Act is an arbitrary law that can be easily abused to silence dissent even when there is no threat whatsoever to public order or national security.
“While there are some comments that may be interpreted as being insulting or offensive on its own merit, it does not automatically amount to incitement or a threat against national security or public order and thus does not warrant criminal prosecution,” CIJ executive director Wathshlah G Naidu said in a statement today.
Source: Malaysiakini
