Guan Eng: Cops assured no more arrests of DAP reps in LTTE crackdown

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the police informed him that no more DAP leaders will be arrested in relation to a police crackdown on alleged Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) elements in Malaysia.

This is after police arrested seven people, including DAP's Malacca exco G Saminathan, who is also the Gadek assemblyperson and Seremban Jaya assemblyperson P Gunasekaran over their alleged links to the LTTE, claiming that the Sri Lankan rebel group was planning an attack on the Sri Lankan High Commission in Malaysia.

"I was also informed that whilst more people will be arrested for alleged links to LTTE, no more leaders or wakil rakyats from DAP will be targeted," he said in a statement today.

Earlier today, DAP's Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, who has been public about his sympathies for ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka, conceded that he too may be arrested but was unfazed, stating that it was no different from his sympathies for the Rohingyas in Myanmar, and Muslims in Mindanao and Palestine.

Lim said the arrests were shocking and had expressed to the police that the DAP believed in the innocence of its two assemblypersons after a briefing from the police.

"Their involvement in the DAP so far has shown no indication that the two were involved in any activities that departed from the party’s stand of moderation, non-violence and peaceful resolution," he said.

Lim noted that the police claim to have "concrete proof" to make the arrests and had "referred to all relevant authorities at the highest level" before taking action.

He said DAP will provide a legal team to assist the two DAP leaders led by Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh and Jelutong MP RSN Rayer.

"The police promised a speedy investigation to allow for the submission of their investigation papers to the Attorney-General Chambers and enable our two DAP leaders to be released early.

"The police also promised to provide the families and legal counsel access to our two legislators.

"Both our legislators were praised by the police for co-operating fully and calmly with the police during their arrests," he said.

However, lawyer Haniff Khatri (above), who has acted for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, criticised Lim's statement, stating that it could create a negative perception.

"How can the police give information that no more DAP elected representatives would be targeted when the investigation has yet to conclude?" he said in a statement.

Hanif said it is natural for political parties, particularly those in power, want to ensure that its elected representatives are not entangled in serious allegations such as terrorism.

However, he stressed that Harapan leaders should not make any statements that could give rise to the suspicion of government interference.

"While Harapan may be affected by the terrorism allegations, it must always uphold the rule of law and distance itself from any action or statements that could lead to a negative perception that the government is interfering in the rule of law," he said.

Detention without trial criticised

Meanwhile, the Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) criticised the detention without trial under Sosma.

"It must be reminded that the police has power to investigate without even arresting or detaining any suspects.

"Our former premier Najib Abdul Razak, during the investigations (on the 1MDB scandal), was never detained in police lock-ups demonstrates how Malaysian police can still proceed with investigations without even resorting to remand orders and certainly not Sosma," said Madpet spokesperson Charles Hector.

Charles said Sosma is vague and its definition of "security offences", and possession of books or even activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy, that are not clearly defined, are considered offences.

He said it should have at least been limited to offences involving violence and firearms.

"Malaysia ought to respect justice and human rights, which also means that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty after a fair trial.

"This also must include the needed checks and balances to prevent police abuses, which includes the right to be brought before the magistrate within 24 hours of arrest, and the right to be further remanded only if the Magistrate allows for it after according the right to be heard to all parties, the right to be remanded at any one time in accordance to the limits now in the Criminal Procedure Code, the right to bail and the right to a fair trial.

"Sosma is an affront to justice and human rights, and it should be immediately repealed.

"Every one arrested, charged and tried should be accorded the same rights and standards as provided for in our Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act," he said.