Thursday 14 March 2013

‘Govt practising selective prosecution’



‘Govt practising selective prosecution’
 | March 14, 2013 

An NGO is wondering why it's Tian Chua who's being charged and not Ibrahim Ali, Ridhuan Tee and Dr Mahathir Mohamad who said 'worse things'.

PETALING JAYA: The charging of PKR vice-president Tian Chua under the Sedition Act proves that the government practises selective prosecution, said a coalition of Indian NGOs.
Angkatan Warga Aman (WargaAman) secretary-general S Barathidasan questioned the government’s rationale in suing Tian Chua while turning a blind eye to those who spew racist comments.
“We lodged several police reports against academician Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“They said worse things, insulting other races and one even threatened to burn Malay language Bibles. Why no action is taken against them?” asked Barathidasan.
This morning, Tian Chua, who is also Batu MP, was charged at the Sessions Court under the Sedition Act 148 for allegedly accusing Umno of being behind the Lahad Datu intrusion by armed Filipino Sulu forces.
He was also charged with describing the Sulu gunmen’s incursion as a government plot to frighten the people and an attempt by Umno to divert people’s attention from the issuance of MyKads to foreigners in Sabah.
If found guilty, Tian Chua could face a fine of RM5,000 or three years jail or both upon conviction. He had since pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Barathidasan reminded the police and the Attorney-General Chamber’s (AGC) that the people are watching and they could see the double standard being practised.
“It shows that there are people above the law in the eyes of the present government. We have lost our confidence in the police and the AGC,” he said.