KUALA LUMPUR – Newly minted Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong has called for the release of fellow party member S Murugan after police arrested him yesterday under the Sedition Act 1948.
This came after 43-year-old Murugan, a DAP member in Paloh, was accused of posting allegedly seditious material on his personal Facebook page in the run-up to last month’s Johor election.
Yesterday morning, the Johor Baru Magistrate Court allowed for a three-day remand order on him to facilitate police investigations.
Liew said Murugan should not be arrested under the act and also called for its abolishment, describing the legislation as cruel and has no place in Malaysia’s democracy.
“Our country has sufficient laws to govern matters of freedom and free speech. Johor DAP urges the people to stand in solidarity with Murugan. We will also provide him with pro bono legal assistance,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Malaysiakini had reported that Murugan was detained for a Facebook post allegedly encouraging the Indian community to not vote for MIC. – The Vibes, April 12, 2022