KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 ― Umno’s Datuk Lokman Noor Adam accused Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of hypocrisy today after the former’s brother was detained for sedition.
He claimed Anwar was reneging on Pakatan Harapan’s previous pledge to do away with the Sedition Act 1948.
Police arrested and remanded Lokman’s brother, Azman Noor Adam, for allegedly insulting Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“If previously, before the general election, Anwar Ibrahim and his allies are the ones who mainly spoke out against the use of the Sedition Act, and today because he wants to be the prime minister, he is the one who supports this Act,” Lokman said in a statement today.
“Whatever happens he will keep mum, as long as he becomes PM. Already he does not do as he says; were he to become PM it would be even worse,” he said.
Lokman claimed Azman was allegedly arrested for posting a photograph on Facebook showing an acquaintance with his backside towards Dr Mahathir on television. On his Instagram post, Lokman admitted that he did not agree with his brother’s post.
“However angry I am at Tun Mahathir for failing to fulfill his election promise, I strongly condemn such rude actions from individuals. In the same way I condemned Bersih supporters who did so to Datuk Seri Najib Razak when he was Prime Minister.
“However we have not heard of Bersih supporters detained at 3am in the morning under the Sedition Act. Now why is that?” he asked.
In response, Movement to Abolish the Sedition Act (GHAH) expressed regret over the detainment of Azman.
“We condemn the 3am arrest, which could have been done later in the day. GHAH sees this as a form of intimidation inherited from the previous government,” said GHAH co-ordinator Amir Abd Hadi.
He urged the Pakatan Harapan government to implement a moratorium on the Act’s usage as soon as possible, and for any charges brought up under it to be dropped immediately.
“There is no place for tyrannical laws in New Malaysia. Abolish the Sedition Act now,” said Amir.
