Sarawak politicians released on police bail after anti-PAS protest


Desmond Davidson

PBK president Voon Lee Shan, seen here in Simpang Tiga police station, insists he was protesting peacefully and had done nothing wrong. – Facebook pic, November 23, 2022.

POLICE have withdrawn their application to remand Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan, his son and three-party colleagues over their anti-PAS protest yesterday.

Legal counsel Dominic Ng said they have been released on police bail.

The legal team included Lim Heng Choo as the lead counsel, and prominent senior lawyer R J Noel.

“Currently, no charges have been proffered,” Ng said.

“According to the investigating officer, the application for remand was withdrawn upon orders from his superior,” he added, going on to say police had wanted to hold the men on suspicion of “abetting the commission of an offence by the public, or by more than 10 persons” under section 117 of the penal code, punishable by up to three years in prison.

Voon, 67, his son, Phang Aik Hua, Chan Chee Wei, 59, and Lue Cheng Hing were arrested over a street convoy they staged yesterday afternoon to protest Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) decision to align the coalition with Perikatan Nasional.

Some of the vehicles in the five-car convoy, which started from the Padang Merdeka in the city centre and ended at Gala City 6km away, displayed banners with the slogan: “Say No to PAS”.

Voon was reportedly was arrested at 11pm at Simpang Tiga police station after learning that police were looking for him.

In a Whatsapp group posting, Voon said he had been arrested under the Sedition Act but “police did not tell me what activities or words that I said were against the law”.

“We are only carrying our political work peacefully and I don’t see anything wrong,” he said of the protest.

Voon claimed to having the popular support of Sarawak folk after a social media storm erupted when GPS announced it was aligning with Islamist PAS.

“(The) public is concerned because PAS… is seen as an extremist party and their style of politics and ideology are not acceptable by the people of Sarawak,” Voon said. – November 24, 2022.


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