DAP leaders are “deeply unhappy” at the authorities’ sudden reliance on an oppressive law being used against party members suspected of having links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said Lim Guan Eng.

Condemning the arrests as having been made on “unsubstantiated grounds”, the DAP secretary-general said party leaders, at a meeting last night, made known that they are rattled by police’s action against Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan, Seremban Jaya rep P. Gunasekaran and three other DAP men.

“Questions were raised as to why similar action was not taken against now-opposition leaders when they were in the government, before the general election last year,” he said in a statement.

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court earlier today allowed an application by Saminathan and three others to refer to the high court the question of whether they could be allowed bail. Following the court’s ruling, identical orders were made at two other sessions courts where the remaining LTTE suspects were brought.

Lim said DAP welcomes the development, but stressed that questions remain.

“A common question that remains unanswered is, why was action taken against DAP elected representatives by the current government for alleged offences committed before 2018, when the previous Barisan Nasional government had not taken action against them?

“The failure to take similar action against leaders in the then government who are now in the opposition, some of whom have given funds to LTTE, raises questions on the existence of a deep state.”

He said the two main issues raised at last night’s meeting were the detention of the DAP reps and the ban on a comic book for allegedly promoting communism.

“Questions were raised as to why no action was taken against former government leaders who had attended a communist party training school or had given speeches at a communist party congress.”

He said similar sentiments were expressed at today’s cabinet meeting.

Lim said the 28-day detention without trial and denial of bail are among the draconian provisions under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) that should be abolished, as promised in Pakatan Harapan’s 14th general election manifesto.

A review of Sosma to allow greater judicial oversight and remove several provisions is ongoing, he added.

On the comic book issue, he said the government allows for appeals and judicial reviews by the courts against all decisions made by the Home Ministry.

He said an explanation by enforcement authorities on the LTTE case should be forthcoming.

“DAP will continue to stand in solidarity with our detained elected representatives and members,” said Lim, adding that the party will offer legal and other forms of assistance to the affected families and constituencies.

“DAP will continue our engagement within the government to ensure that promises made in the PH manifesto are implemented and complied with, not only in spirit, but also in words and deeds.”

The five DAP men are among 12 charged with offences linked to LTTE, a now-defunct terrorist group. – November 1, 2019.