DAP is disturbed by police investigation into Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan and Klang MP Charles Santiago, for criticising a Federal Court decision, said Lim Guan Eng.  

The DAP secretary-general said that criticising a court decision is not seditious and is a far cry from making seditious remarks that question the integrity of the judiciary. 

“Criticising a court decision has been the legal convention and to silence such differences of opinion is no different from stifling legitimate dissent and freedom of speech,” he said in a statement. 

Malaysiakini had reported today that investigation papers under the sedition and multimedia laws have been opened on Gan and Santiago for comments made after the Federal Court found the news portal guilty of contempt last Friday.

Kuala Muda OCPD Adzli Abu Shah confirmed that two separate police reports were lodged by an individual from a civil society group based in Gurun, Kedah.

The duo is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act. 

On Friday, Malaysiakini was fined RM500,000 for allowing allegedly contemptuous comments posted by on its website.

The fine was set by the Federal Court after its judgment finding the news portal guilty of contempt. 

On the same day, Malaysiakini appealed to the public for help to pay the RM500,000 fine.  

The portal announced that it had collected over RM505,000 just four hours after the fundraising began in the morning.

Lim said that by opening up police investigation papers on both Gan and Santiago, freedom of press and speech will become much more restrictive.

“Is putting freedom of the press and speech on straitjackets the new normal after the declaration of emergency and suspension of Parliament?

“Without a functioning Parliament, the government can exercise dictatorial powers.”

He added that this move will give a negative impression of an insecure government that has lost its parliamentary majority, systematically snuffing out democracy and fundamental human rights, one by one.“If investigation papers can be opened against both men, does that mean the police will also investigate the thousands of similar comments and criticisms?”

Lim said that DAP will stand together with both Gan and Santiago, just like the public that rose in unison to donate funds and raise the RM500,000 fine. 

“The public will also stand in solidarity with those who have committed no offence other than exercising their right of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.” – February 22, 2021.