Ali Tinju is why Malaysia needs Sedition, NSC Acts, BN man says
(Malay Mail Online) – The case of Mohd Ali Baharom, the army veteran arrested yesterday over allegedly racially provocative remarks issued during the Kota Raya protest, is one good example why the country still needs the Sedition Act 1948 and the newly-proposed National Security Council (NSC) law, a leader of a Barisan Nasional (BN) component party said.
Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said this on microblogging site Twitter today, following reports of Mohd Ali or Ali Tinju’s arrest last night.
“If u r against Sedition Act, then why u support Ali Tinju 2b charged under the Act? Opposition leaders must make up their mind..no flip flop,” he wrote in one posting.
“Ali Tinju case is an example why our country still need Sedition Act. Easy to oppose an Act. But when u need it, it may be too late,” he added.
Ali Tinju case is an example why our country still need Sedition Act. Easy to oppose an Act. But when u need it, it may be too late. — Tan Keng Liang (@tankengliang) December 22, 2015
Reacting to a Malay daily’s report of a handphone cheating case, Ali Tinju, a former soldier, led a small group of “red shirted” demonstrators outside Kota Raya last Friday, calling for a boycott of the shopping centre and linking the case to unscrupulous Chinese traders.
The controversial leader of the “red shirt” movement also called the government to train ethnic Chinese handphone traders to prevent future cases of cheating.
Yesterday, Ali Tinju was nabbed by the police for remarks issued during the protest and is said to be under investigation for sedition.
Today, Tan also used Ali Tinju’s arrest to make his case for the NSC Bill, the new security law that the Dewan Negara is currently debating.
The security law has come under heavy criticism from opposition lawmakers who say it gives over-expansive powers to those in charge of areas identified as security zones.
“Just like Sedition Act & Ali Tinju case, we have to seriously consider NSC & its importance on our National Security. Think about it,” Tan said today.
just like Sedition Act & Ali Tinju case, we have to seriously consider NSC & its importance on our National Security. Think about it — Tan Keng Liang (@tankengliang) December 22, 2015
The NSC Bill proposes to allow the NSC — which would be chaired by the prime minister — to take command of the country’s security forces and to impose strict policing of areas deemed to face security risks.
According to the Bill, the NSC’s jurisdiction takes effect once the prime minister designates a location as a “security area” — a status that is valid for six months at a time, subject to renewal by the prime minister.
Once the NSC takes control of a security area, security forces will have the right to search or arrest without warrant any individual “found committing, alleged to have committed, or reasonably suspected of having committed any offence under written laws in the security area”.
The Bill also seeks to empower security forces to arrest without warrant and take action against those who do not abide by an evacuation order from a security area, and also carry out searches of any vehicle or premise within the security area without a warrant.
Last month, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Bill on a voice vote at the third and final reading at 10.55pm, after the opposition failed to stop the Bill at the policy stage debate in a bloc vote with 107 voting for and 74 against the Bill.
The Bill is currently making its way through the Senate and is expected to be voted on later today.
