We also want to be like Anwar, Ratu Naga quips
Former PKR member says the prime minister seems to have forgotten his association with freedom of speech and street demonstrations.
(FMT) – Former PKR member Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah has defended freedom of speech and the right of peaceful assembly after she was called by police to investigate her role in the Selamatkan Malaysia rally.
“It is not wrong for anyone to express their opinion, as long as they are not breaking the law.
“It is fine for me as long as it’s not crime-related,” she said after giving her statement at the Dang Wangi police headquarters here today.
Syarul Ema, better known as Ratu Naga, alleged that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has forgotten his past – alluding to him having taken part in numerous demonstrations during the reformasi era of the late 1990s – by allowing the police to take action against a peaceful rally.
“We understand that Anwar was famous for defending freedom of speech and street assembly in the past.
“We don’t understand why so many people were called to give a statement for the peaceful assembly held on Sept 16.
“We hope to become like him as well,” she quipped.
Yesterday, FMT reported that several people, including Perikatan Nasional leaders, who took part in the Selamatkan Malaysia rally, have been summoned by police to give statements at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.
Syarul Ema and PN’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, were among those summoned.
Meanwhile, Syarul Ema’s lawyer, Zaid Malek, urged the government to examine the judicial basis for its investigation of the rally.
He said Syarul Ema was investigated under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, but there was a precedent set by the Court of Appeal ruling that this article violated the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
“The investigation under this law is not valid and is against the Federal Constitution based on the precedent case of Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad v the public prosecutor in 2014.
“All these investigations are without basis of law. Therefore, I urge the government to take immediate action,” Zaid said.
