‘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'.
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.
