Azis: Police to determine whether TMJ was seditious
KUALA LUMPUR: The police shall determine as to whether Johor Royal Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s remarks on Twitter was an offence under Sedition Act, 1948, said Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman.
“We at the ministry level, we leave it to the police to take action based on police reports, if there are any.
“I am not a lawyer, but the reality is, if there are police reports… we leave it to the wisdom of the police to determine this issue,” he told the Dewan Rakyat in response to a question from Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau).
Ismail asked whether the remarks by the Johor royalty is considered an offence and whether Putrajaya was prepared to take action against the latter.
“Can the words issued by (Tunku Ismail) be categorised as an offence under the Sedition Act, and is the government prepared to take action?
“And what is the mechanism that will be used if the government is prepared to take action against the Johor crown prince?” asked Ismail.
The BN lawmaker pointed out that many social media users were debating the tit for tat views involving Tunku Ismail and government leaders.
He also added that the verbal sparring between Putrajaya and Johor palace could destabilise the nation politically and damage the credibility of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The exchange began with the government’s decision to accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and carried over into Osman Sapian’s resignation as the Johor menteri besar.
Similar questions were also raised to Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Eddin Syazlee Syith
Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Padang Besar-BN) had asked about certain individuals – specifically Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman – purportedly encouraging criticism against the Johor crown prince.
“The claim that the Communication and Multimedia Commission has failed to take action is not accurate,” Eddin said in reply.
“Actually, the MCMC takes action through police investigation. We do not do 24-hour monitoring.
“Action is taken after a police report is lodged, and completed with investigation papers.”
