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Second police statement to Special Branch Investigation Officer in connection with Dr. Adham Baba's alleged seditious remark


Press Statement
by
Loke Siew Fook

(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday):  I had just recorded my second police statement yesterday with the Petaling Jaya Police Contingent Special Branch investigation officer in connection with my police report against UMNO Youth Education Bureau Chairman, Dr. Adham Baba for his statement to call for the closure of all Chinese Primary Schools on 15th November.

I had first recorded my statement with the Petaling Jaya Police Contingent Criminal investigation officer on 15th November and I was called again by the Special Branch Officer to give further statement to help the investigation.

DAPSY had decided to lodge the police report on 15th November as we viewed that the statement by Dr. Adham Baba on the UMNO Youth website "Prejudis Melampau Cauvinis Pendidikan Cina, Kerajaan Digesa Tutup Semua SJKC" violated the Sedition Act, as decided by the 1971 case involving Utusan Melayu which was found guilty of sedition for carrying a report with the sub-heading "Hapuskan Sekolah-Sekolah Beraliran Tamil atau China di-Negeri ini", which was held as questioning one of the four entrenched sensitive issues in the Constitution, viz: Article 152 (1) (a) that "no person shall be prohibited or prevented from using (otherwise than for official purposes), or from teaching or learning, any other language".

I understand that the investigation is in the final phase now and was handled by the Special Branch investigation officer and once it is completed, it will be handed to the Attorney General Chambers to decide whether to prosecute Dr. Adham Baba.

I call on the Attorney General, Datuk Abdul Gani Patail to use his discretionary power fairly and independently to take action against Dr. Adham Baba and prosecute him under the Sedition Act 1948 taking into consideration of the gravity of such irresponsible and insensitive statement and its dire effect on a multi racial society like Malaysia. Although Dr. Adham had apologized for his words, he must be punished as his statement was very serious in damaging racial harmony in the country and legal action against him will set an example to remind other racists that no one in Malaysia should question the rights of all Malaysians to vernacular education and other sensitive issues.

I will continue to give my fullest cooperation to help the police in their investigations and I'm prepared to appear in court to testify for the trial.

(4/12/2002)


* Loke Siew Fook, DAPSY Acting National Secretary