Police report lodged against PAS Youth chief
(The Star) – Perak Umno Youth has lodged a police report against PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub for allegedly “insulting the integrity and reputation” of the judiciary.
Its secretary Syamsul Baharin Putra Ahmad Shibi said Salahuddin had disrespected the Court of Appeal judges with his statement that they could be bought, in an article published on www.harakahdaily.net.
“It was reported there that they are worried that the court decision on Thursday would favour Barisan Nasional because the judges consist of those who can be bought,” Syamsul Baharin Putra told reporters after lodging the report at the Sungai Senam police station on Wednesday.
“His statement is slanderous to the integrity and reputation of the country’s judiciary,” he added.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal will hear Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadirs’ appeal against last week’s High Court decision that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has been Perak’s “rightful mentri besar at all material times.”
Syamsul Baharin said Umno Youth had not questioned the May 11 High Court decision which was in favour of Nizar.
He said the statement could create unrest among the people and urged the police to launch an investigation into Salahuddin and the website.
He also urged the Home Ministry to take action against Salahuddin as it was a crime to “accuse and show disrespect” to the judiciary.
State Gerakan legal bureau chief Ong Teng Boon, who was also present, said Barisan Nasional had always “respected the law and the decisions made by the courts.”
“Pakatan Rakyat says it upholds and respects the law, but what Salahuddin did is disrespectful,” said Ong.
“It is up to the court to decide and not us,” he added.
He said that Salahuddin and Pakatan could always appeal any decision that went against them.
At a separate press conference later, a group of lawyers calling themselves “Young Lawyers for Justice” also slammed Salahuddin’s statement, saying that it would lead the people to think that there was no need to respect the judiciary or the laws of the country.
“Salahuddin’s statement is also an attempt to place the judges in a tight spot, making it hard for them to carry out their responsibilities in a fair, free and lawful way,” said the group’s spokesman Norali Nordin.
“We hope that the involved parties will not politicise any of the court’s decisions and instead learn to accept them with an open heart,” he said.
