Saturday March 17

Investigate PM for slanderous words, police told

6:05pm, Sat: A police report was lodged this afternoon against Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his comments linking the opposition to the racial clashes in Petaling Selatan, Selangor.

Youth members of the component parties in the opposition front Barisan Alternatif lodged the report at the Dang Wangi Police Station, claiming that “there was no basis to Mahathir’s statements”.

They added that Mahathir’s remarks also slandered Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor.

The group of 20 people were led by BA Youth secretary Lokman Adam, who is from Keadilan, and organising secretary of PRM, Jonson Chong.

According to the Sin Chew Jit Poh daily yesterday, Mahathir said that there is a political agenda behind the clashes in Petaling Selatan which have claimed six lives, with over 40 injured and more than 220 arrested.

The prime minister said the incidents, which started last Thursday and were brought under control four days later, are linked to Ezam’s alleged vow to launch street demonstrations to topple the government.

The Keadilan Youth chief was reported by the Mingguan Malaysia newspaper to have “admitted to planning to launch wide-scale demonstrations to topple the government chosen by the people”.

However, Ezam said that while he supported demonstrating as a legitimate right in a democracy, he, however, denied that he aimed to overthrow the government through such means.

Last Wednesday, the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate Court charged Ezam under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act. He is due to face trial in Aug 6.

Mahathir told journalists during his one-day visit to Pahang on Thursday that the demonstrations advocated by Ezam could either be common street demonstrations or those which could lead to fights or even trigger racial clashes.

“The information received by us showed Ezam has contacted his friends overseas, saying that he will create riots in the country until the current government is toppled. However, some of the people advised him not to do so because they do not want to see turmoil in Malaysia,” he said.

Mahathir’s comments on Ezam were carried only by Chinese-language newspapers yesterday.

No proof

According to the police report, Mahathir has not shown any proof to back his accusations.

“Therefore, his comments are considered slanderous and made with bad intent,” it said.

In addition, the police report said that Mahathir told of rumours of hundreds of people being killed in the racial clashes.

Most daily newspapers yesterday quoted Mahathir as saying that rumours were circulating in the affected areas to evoke anger among Malaysians about the actual number of deaths involved in the clashes.

“I do not know who is behind these rumours or their background but they had circulated rumours that hundreds of Malays had been killed. The same rumours are circulating among Indians that many of their people were killed,” he said.

“These people want the situation to continue in the hope that it will lead to riots like in a neighbouring country.”

The police report added that Mahathir’s statements on the clashes represent a “serious crime” since the tragedy is still under police investigation.

“We appeal to the police to immediately investigate Mahathir.”

Keadilan Youth deputy chief Low Chee Chong told malaysiakini that the police will be calling those who lodged the report for an interview.

Last modified:Saturday March 17, 6:11 pm