HUMAN rights lawyer Syahredzan Johan today called for a moratorium on all politically motivated charges initiated by the previous Barisan Nasional government.

“Sedition Act cases, cases involving Section 233 (Communication and Multimedia Act), cases that are politically motivated. We should have a moratorium, put these cases on hold until it is review by the new attorney-general,” he told The Malaysian Insight when met at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court today.

Syahredzan is representing satire graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza, who faces two court charges for his clown caricature of former prime minister Najib Razak under the Communication and Multimedia Act.

Pakatan Harapan has pledged to review all politically motivated charges made under the Najib administration.

“The current government said they would review the laws. I hope the solicitor-general can give the instructions to suspend these cases until the new attorney-general is appointed in the future,” said Syahredzan.

Solicitor-general Engku Nor Faizah Engku Atek currently heads the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali has been ordered to go on leave on May 14 by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Meanwhile, Fahmi is unperturbed by the Cyber Crime Court judge Zaman Mohd Noor’s decision to postpone his case today.

“This case should have been dropped. (I was charged) Just because I drew a caricature of a political leader. We shouldn’t accept this.

“We have the right to criticise the government. No matter who they are. I will continue to defend my right to critique them using art and satire,” he said.

The first witness, a Red Shirts leader and former army man Mohd Ali Baharom, better known as Ali Tinju, could not clearly recall when was the first time he saw the cartoon on social media that offended him.

The second witness, former digital forensic officer at the Communication and Multimedia Commission Saiful Ridwan Mohd Darus, confirmed that Fahmi uploaded the image and it had gone viral on social media.

Fahmi was sentenced to a month’s jail and RM30,000 fine by the Ipoh sessions court on a similar charge in February 2016. The case is at the appeal stage at the high court.

Public donations poured in to help Fahmi pay the fine within 24 hours of his sentence.  – May 28, 2018.