(Sept 18): Popular Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin is being investigated under the Sedition Act over a Facebook posting just before the Bersih 4 rally on August 29.

In the status uploaded at 8pm the day before the overnight rally on Merdeka weekend, the mufti had described as heroes, those who rise up to fight traitors and cruel leaders.

“It is embarrassing for a community if there are no male heroes but only courageous women who dare to come forward and act,” Asri had said.

He also praised Che Guevara, the famed Argentinian freedom fighter, who had many “positive attributes” despite his socialist ideology, which could be adopted.

“Recognising a fighter’s heroism does not mean we support or agree with all his ideals. We may not agree with Che Guevara’s socialism, but we have to admit that he was a great fighter and has positive attributes.

“It is not wrong for us to recognise the goodness in struggles and join them if it leads to something good,” he had said, believed to be referring to the Bersih 4 rally.

Police confirmed that they have opened investigation papers against Asri and that he is being probed for sedition.

They began investigations earlier this week when two police officers from Bukit Aman recorded a statement from journalists who had reported on the mufti’s Facebook posting.

The 34-hour Bersih 4 gathering was to rally support for a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who has been rocked by financial scandals.

The gathering also demanded reforms, such as clean elections, a corrupt-free government, the right to protest, strengthening parliamentary democracy and saving the economy.

Despite a government ban on Bersih 4 paraphernalia, tens of thousands of Malaysians gathered around Dataran Merdeka in yellow T-shirts to urge the government embrace reforms.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also made two appearances at the rally, calling for Najib’s resignation.

The retired statesman, along with a host of opposition politicians and activists, such as Selangor Mentri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali and Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, are under investigations for Bersih 4-related offences, including wearing the banned T-shirt, allegedly offensive speeches and others.

While the rest have already been called up for questioning, police have yet to meet Dr Mahathir. – The Malaysian Insider