THE police are investigating PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim over their remarks concerning the ousting of the federal government.
According to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Hadi was being probed under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code.
The law criminalises statements with the “intention to cause, or which is likely to cause” any persons to be induced into committing an offence against the state or against “public tranquility”.
Meanwhile, Shahidan was being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 which criminalises “uttering seditious words, or printing, publishing or importing seditious literature”.
In a written parliamentary reply, Saifuddin said both MPs are also being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which stipulates the offences of using network facilities to transmit communication deemed to be offensive or could cause annoyance to another person and offender under the section is punishable with up to one-year imprisonment, a fine up to RM50,000, or both, upon conviction.
Saifuddin was responding to a query by Jelutong MP RSN Rayer who asked about Putrajaya’s next course of action against those who attempt to topple the government and have uttered “treasonous” statement.
However, it is unclear what specific acts Hadi and Shahidan are being investigated for.
On March this year, Hadi had predicted the imminent collapse of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government.
Following public outrage, the PAS leader argued that it was entirely within the opposition’s right to try and topple the unity government.
As for Shahidan, he said in December last year that efforts were underway to install Perikatan Nasional (PN) as the federal government.
“We are grateful because there are signs that PN is enjoying extraordinary support… We are working hard to ensure that this Cabinet doesn’t last,” he was reported as saying during a press conference following the Padang Serai election.
“God willing, we will become the government again with the people’s mandate.”
However, in March this year, Shahidan denied there were plans to topple the government. – June 9, 2023
