THE police’s latest pursuit of Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown only reeks of abusive political influence, said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The PKR president said he was disturbed by the police’s recent public appeal and issuing of wanted posters featuring Rewcastle Brown.

“Such an unnecessarily public display reeks of abusive political influence and adds yet another dark mark on Malaysia’s record concerning press freedom and respect for the fundamental human right to free speech, both being essential to a functioning democracy,” he said in a statement today.

Last weekm Bukit Aman CID chief Abd Jalil Hassan made a plea to the public for information on Rewcastle Brown, who had failed to appear in court to face a charge of defaming Sultanah Nur Zahirah of Terengganu.

It came a little more than a month after she became the subject of an arrest warrant.

Rewcastle Brown is facing a charge under Section 500 of the Penal Code for making disparaging statements against the Sultanah in her book, The Sarawak Report – The Inside Story of the 1MDB Expose.

Anwar said the campaign against Rewcastle Brown is made more troubling by the fact that similar actions are not being taken against other known criminals, such as Jho Low.

“Regardless of the allegation against Rewcastle Brown, she is owed the same dignity and respect as any other individual in Malaysia, at whom accusations are made,” he said.

Last week, Rewcastle Brown told an online news portal that she felt sorry for the police, having been ordered to reopen a case classified as ‘no further action’ in 2018.

Anwar praised Rewcastle Brown in her relentless pursuit to raise the issues of corruption, the plight of indigenous peoples in Sarawak and environmental harm that has resulted from illegal and immoral business practices, particularly in the logging and development industries.

“Rewcastle Brown has done, and continues to do, a great service to the people of Malaysia and, in particular the disenfranchised of Sarawak by raising awareness of and exposing wrong doings and abuses,” he said.

He said her actions represented exemplary acts of humanitarianism that are too rarely seen here in Malaysia.

“While Malaysia is indeed a land of law and order, it ought also to strive to always better itself as a land of justice and fairness,” he said.

“Where fair trial and treatment precede the punishment, which is only exacted upon the decree of our independent judiciary,” he said.

“Journalists, whistle-blowers, and activists should not be branded criminals without a fair trial, especially when they fight for the same justice we all want in Malaysia today,” he added. – November 17, 2021.