PRESS STATEMENT :
19 NOVEMBER 2015
COMRADE ARUL (PSM) TO BE CHARGED UNDER SEDITION ACT !
PSM received confirmed information from our lawyers that comrade Arulchelvan (Ex-Sec General, current central committee member of PSM) will be charged under the infamous Sedition Act, 1948. He will be charged under Section 4(1)(b) which states Any persons whom utter any seditious words can be fined up to a maximum of RM 5,000 or a jail term up to three years or both, if found guilty .
We believe the police are pulling him to court in reference to statement made by PSM on 10th February, 2015 to condemn the Federal court decision in the trial of Anwar Ibrahim. It was an official party statement by PSM commenting court decision for Anwar Ibrahim that in our opinion was influenced politically.
Arul was then arrested on the 19th February, 2015 at his home in Kajang and brought to Dang Wangi police station. His mobile phones and laptop was held by the police. Following the denial of remand, the following day, Arul was released in the evening of 20th February, 2015.
Once again the people in power are resorting to heavy handed tactics to harass and intimidate social and political activist against questioning the irregularities in justice, mismanagements in administration and blatant corrupt practices. This act of suppression follows a long list of other activist whom have also fallen prey like, Azmi Sharom, Sivarasa, Tian Chua, Khalid Ismath, Zunar to this draconian colonial law.
PSM calls on the police and Government to immediately stop this selective prosecution to shut down voices of dissent and drop all charges against Arulchelvan and all other social and political activist.
Abolish Sedition Act Now!
Sivarajan Arumugam
Secretary General Parti Socialist Malaysia