Ex-top cop files sedition complaint against Penang rep in May 13 storm

(Malay Mail Online) – Retired policeman Tan Sri Zaman Khan wants the police to arrest and investigate DAP’s P. Ramasamy for sedition for challenging the deputy prime minister to repeat his controversial May 13 remarks.

The former director of the Criminal Investigation Department lodged a police report today at the Jalan Tun Razak police station here against Ramasamy, who is also Penang’s second deputy chief minister.

“I find the statement to be seditious and could spark chaos for our multi-racial and multi-ethnic country.

“I am lodging this report to urge the authorities to take necessary action and investigate the Penang deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy under the Sedition Act,” the report said.

Zaman further said he had made the report “as a concerned citizen”.

Copies of the report were posted and shared on microblogging website Twitter earlier today, within hours of the complaint made.

Zaman has yet to reply to The Malay Mail Online at the time of writing.

The former CID chief had previously called on the Najib administration to reinstate detention without trial laws, which he argued were key to national security and necessary to safeguard racial harmony.

Ramasamy had on Sunday challenged Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to “bring May 13”  after the deputy prime minister reportedly warned that a repeat of the 1969 race riots could not be ruled out.

Saying that Malaysians in general did not wish to see a recurrence of the deadly inter-ethnic clashes, the Batu Kawan MP criticised “irresponsible” leaders for fomenting the religious and racial tension currently stewing in the country.

“MIC might be scared, Gerakan might be scared, MCA might be scared, but I tell you, if you want to bring May 13, you bring it,” Ramasamy told a press conference here yesterday. “Don’t talk.

All the time talking May 13, May 13. Bring-lah May 13. You start May 13. This will be the first time the government starts May 13. You think what? You think we’re scared ah?” he added.

Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, reportedly said on Friday that a repeat of the May 13 race riots could occur if the country’s ethnic communities continue to criticise one another.

Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia reported Muhyiddin as saying in Johor that ethnic tensions that were allowed to simmer would lead to unrest when the various communities start to eye each other with suspicion.

“Because of that, there exists all kinds of assumptions when ethnic ties become strained and unhealthy. This can cause that event and I do not want to mention the particular date,” he was quoted as saying.

Muhyiddin did not mention the date specifically but Utusan Malaysia inserted May 13, 1969 to his quote in parentheses.

The Umno deputy president also said he has been receiving text messages from those expressing concern about the welfare of the Malays, the country’s dominant racial group, and Islam.

Both Muhyiddin and Ramasamy have been criticised for their remarks.