Tuesday 19 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 30): Human rights and law reform non-governmental organisation Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) said the new Government must not use police powers against those who criticise or insult Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In a statement on Wednesday (Nov 30), LFL director Zaid Malek said the PM holds no special status in law, and cannot lawfully call on the police to defend his reputation.

He said it would be an abuse of power for the PM to order police investigations into people who make accusations against him, as he is an interested party.

“Like all other citizens, should Anwar feel aggrieved by adverse comments, he must file a defamation suit in a civil court.

“The job of the police is to prevent crime, not to protect the PM from insults or criticism,” he said.

This comes after PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil on Monday said that Anwar had directed the police to open investigations into individuals who make slanderous or outrageous claims against the PM.

Subsequently, Baling Member of Parliament Hassan Saad was hauled up for police questioning for allegedly saying that Anwar is an Israeli agent.

Hassan is being investigated, among others, under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Malek said this goes against the Pakatan Harapan coalition’s own promise in its manifesto to repeal Section 233.

He said the fact that the police probe is apparently at Anwar’s behest is inappropriate and potentially unlawful.

“Will citizens feel afraid now to criticise the PM?

“Instead of a police probe, Anwar should just proceed with defamation action, which he has already begun against Hassan,” said Malek.

Malek also said police intervention can only be justified where offenders make statements that incite harm, violence or injury to the public.

He said in a functioning democracy, police action cannot be taken against politicians or critics for issuing objectionable or insulting or false statements against anyone, including the PM.

“If the police initiate criminal investigations into every accusation or insult against the PM, it will be a slippery slope towards authoritarianism,” he said.

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