KUALA LUMPUR – Klang MP Charles Santiago is being probed by the police for allegedly contentious remarks, made at a human rights seminar in November last year.
He is being investigated under Article 505(B) of the Penal Code for ‘statements conducing to public mischief’.
Speaking to reporters after the questioning finished, Charles was surprised that it took police one year to summon him for his comments at the “LTTE Conundrum and SOSMA as a Draconian Law” forum.
Sosma is the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 whereas LTTE refers to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – a defunct Sri Lankan militant group, which the police said had a foothold in Malaysia.
“This is a bit of (a) witch-hunt, which is wasting my time and the police’s as well. They should have done the investigation much earlier,” he remarked at a press conference held at the entrance of the Royal Malaysian Police headquarters at Bukit Aman, here.
Charles added that one of his controversial remarks being probed – said at the seminar organised by Suaram – was alleged “double-standards” in police enforcement of Sosma.
Back then, the police’s alleged selective use of the law, claimed Charles, was obvious with the detention of 12 Malaysian men over their alleged links to LTTE when compared to the conditional release of militant Yazid Sufaat – who was involved in the US’ 9/11 tragedy.
“If there is one person that the police should investigate, it should be Zakir Naik – not me. Zakir Naik is a controversial preacher. His preaches, talks and so on are very controversial and can divide our society.
“I think this is very discriminatory against a member of parliament who has the right to raise controversial issues, the right to raise issues in the interest of the nation. The police are after the wrong person,” he said. – The Vibes, December 18, 2020
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