Media Statement
by Perak DAP Chairman, Mr Ngeh Koo Ham
on 7/6/2002
in Ipoh
Mr Lim Kit Siang, the
Democratic Action Party of Malaysia’s national Chairman was arrested and
detained by the police on 5/6/2002 (Wednesday) purportedly for distributing
seditious material.
Mr Ngeh Koo Ham, the
Perak DAP Chairman who was at the scene can testify that at the material time the police informed Mr Lim Kit Siang that he was arrested
because he had committed an offence under the Sedition Act for distributing the
leaflets without a permit. The police now discover that such an offence is non
existent under the Sedition Act.
The police now tries to cover up their illegal and wrongful arrest and detention
of Mr Lim Kit Siang by claiming that the material he was distributing was
seditious in nature and therefore, he has committed an offence under Section
4(1)(C) of the Sedition Act 1948.
It is ridiculous for the
police to put forward such a claim. Thousands of the same leaflets (except that
this time they are printed by Perak DAP) had been distributed in Penang for after the Penang DAP launched its ‘No to 929’ campaign on
6/5/2002 and not a single soul has suggested that they are seditious.
Perak DAP has printed
32,000 of the leaflets for distribution in Ipoh
and is printing another 100,000 of the said leaflets for the other areas
of the Perak State. The people can judge for themselves if the said leaflets are
seditious. The public can view for themselves the said leaflet by obtaining a
copy of the same from DAP Perak, No. 26, Jalan Laxamana, Ipoh, Perak. Tel No.
05-2531532 Fax No. 05-2535803.
A copy of the leaflet is
enclosed with this Media Statement. The said leaflet can also be viewed at the
DAP Malaysia homepage: http://ww.malaysia.net.dap.
The Police lie must be
stopped. View the leaflet and help us distribute them.