Lawyer urges equal treatment for 3R cases after Sanusi probe and prosecution

A lawyer has called for the equal treatment of those being investigated in relation to the 3R issues of race, royalty and religion, following the charges brought against Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor which brought renewed focus on the government's use of the Sedition Act 1948.

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Rafique Rashid commended the speedy investigation into Sanusi's speech in which he allegedly questioned the Selangor sultan over the appointment of Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

He added however that the same process should be applied to all other investigations involving politicians from the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional government. 

"Those who criticise and use 3R issues should be subject to the same action. 

"If Sanusi was brought to court within four days and charged, the same should apply to Lim Guan Eng," he said, referring to the DAP chairman who is also under investigation for a speech he made at an event in Jelutong, Penang, on July 7. 

Sanusi was charged at the Selayang Sessions Court yesterday with making seditious statements on the appointment of Amirudin.

He was also accused of uttering seditious words over the establishment of the coalition government.

The Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director is believed to be the first to face charges related to 3R issues.

Lim meanwhile was quoted by China Press as saying that the "green wave", a phrase used by DAP leaders to describe PN's electoral gains last year, would mean the end of non-Muslim religious rights.

Top cop Razarudin Husain said yesterday that Lim's investigation differed from that of Sanusi as the DAP leader had not touched on the royal institution. 

However, Rafique said the impression was that of unequal treatment between the two politicians, with swifter action against the one in the opposition.

He also questioned the use of the Sedition Act which PH had actively opposed before coming to federal power. 

He said there were other provisions in the law under which individuals could be charged for touching on issues related to the royal institution, including Section 499 of the Penal Code. 

"So there is no need to use outdated laws like the Sedition Act which they themselves said they would abolish," he added. 

"Such laws should not be celebrated because in the end, it will lead to individuals being politically motivated."

Rafique also questioned the need to arrest Sanusi in the early hours of the morning instead of issuing an order for him to attend court. 

He said the charges against Sanusi were filed at about 5pm on July 17, while the public prosecution had said that the PAS leader would be charged on the morning of July 18. 

"The investigating officer would certainly have informed Sanusi's lawyer that the charges would be brought at 9am the next day," he said. 

"Why the need to arrest him at 3am? He would have gone straight to court at 9am."