Even Guan Eng’s foe says cops wrong
Police shouldn’t question him on Chinese New Year eve, says outspoken critic Gerakan’s Andy Yong but he and a Penang MCA leader also say, why didn’t Guan Eng just ask to reschedule?
PETALING JAYA: It was “inconsiderate” of the police to schedule an interrogation of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on the eve of Chinese New Year, said Gerakan Youth deputy chief Andy Yong today.
“Personally, I think it is inconsiderate for the police wanting to question him on the eve of Chinese New Year.
“Moreover, it is not a very serious offence and he was already questioned previously,” he said to FMT when contacted.
Yong was responding to an earlier report, where Lim said the police wanted to question him again on Jan 27, Chinese New Year eve, over a remark he made about the shariah bill issue.
Lim, who was furious, was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying: “They may as well arrest me! Don’t they know what day it is? It is understandable if they do not respect me as the chief minister, but Chinese New Year’s eve is a very special day for us.”
The eve of the Lunar New Year is a significant day for the Chinese community as families prepare for reunion dinners ahead of the festivities celebrated by most Chinese of any religion. Guan Eng is a Christian.
However, Yong said that Lim could have easily requested the police to postpone the questioning session, rather than issuing a statement to declare his defiance.
“He could have requested a postponement and if the police still refuse, it will be a ridiculous decision.”
Since then, the inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has told FMT that Guan Eng could reschedule the meeting to a better date.
Khalid said: “Maybe the investigating officer did not realise the date (was Chinese New Year eve) and wanted to quickly wrap up the probe. So he proposed the date.”
Yong did dismiss Guan Eng’s defiant remarks as a political antic.
“Obviously this is his typical style of politicking. But again, did Lim request the police to postpone the questioning session before issuing such a statement?” he questioned.
Penang MCA Deputy Chairman Tan Teik Cheng also dismissed the chief minister’s defiance. He said: “There is no need for Guan Eng to politicise this issue. If the time and date are not suitable, then just request for it to be changed.
“This is a normal police procedure. I think it’s not that big of an issue.”
Lim was initially questioned on his statement on Jan 13, after several reports were filed against him, including by a 13-year-old boy and that boy’s 20-year old sister.
According to the police report sighted by FMT, the Form 1 student from Ampang, Selangor, filed the report because he felt Lim’s post was against the amendment of the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965, currently being pushed by PAS in the Dewan Rakyat.
In the post, Lim wanted non-Malay parties to withdraw from Barisan Nasional as the ruling coalition had supported the proposed amendments, which would see higher punishments for offences under shariah law.
At present, shariah punishment is capped at a three-year prison term, a fine up to RM5,000 and six strokes of the cane.
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Hadi’s proposed amendments will see a maximum jail sentence of 30 years, up to a RM100,000 fine and 100 strokes of the cane.