Lawyer who called PM 'scammer' becomes latest target of sedition probe

A lawyer who criticised Anwar Ibrahim for not keeping his election promises is ironically himself the target of the Sedition Act, a draconian law that the prime minister's coalition promised to abolish if it came to power.

Rafique Rashid was summoned by Dang Wangi police over a speech he gave at an opposition rally in Perak in July, but said he would not be silenced by the latest investigation.

The police action to question Rafique was immediately condemned by fellow lawyers who labelled it a "supreme betrayal" of the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

"It seems that now no one can criticise the Prime Minister. This is governance ala North Korea," said lawyer Zaid Malek, director of rights groups Lawyers for Liberty (LFL).

"This same draconian act was once repeatedly condemned by the Prime Minister and other leading members of PH, many of whom are now in cabinet. They all vowed to repeal it once they are in power."

Aside from the Sedition Act, Rafique is also being investigated under the Communications and Multimedia Act, a law often used to silence government critics online.

He was questioned in July under the same laws following his speech in which he mocked Anwar as a "scammer" for not implementing the reforms he had promised if he came to power.

Meanwhile, Rafique, who has represented high-profile cases and clients such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad, urged journalists not to be dissuaded from reporting fairly.

"Don't ever succumb to pressure from any side, be it chief editors, editors or the ministry.

"I have always told the public that any pressure from the government against freedom of expression is the beginning of a dictatorial regime," he said.

Anwar has often denied that the Sedition Act was used against his critics, instead said it was maintained to go after those who criticise the royal institution.

When asked about the increasing number of sedition investigations against his political opponents, Anwar recently told US-based journalist Mehdi Hasan that they were targeted due to remarks against the Malay rulers.

"The sedition (probes) involve the sultans and rulers in this country. The constitution provides protection as they are not in politics and they are not supposed to respond. So you see, you can criticise the prime minister. They have called the PM anti-Christ, Jewish agent, American agent, Chinese agent, all sorts of names. They have not been charged or investigated," said Anwar.

In its statement today, LFL said the continued use of the Sedition Act against political opponents and critics showed that the government had "slipped comfortably into authoritarianism".

"It makes mockery of democracy to criminalise criticism of the government.

"We note that increasingly, criticism directed to the Anwar himself triggers sedition or CMA 1998 probes. Where is the great democrat and reformist we were promised?" it asked.

LFL said the government cannot claim that it respects freedom of expression as long as it upholds the Sedition Act.

"Simply declaring that the government allows criticism against it is meaningless if the rakyat lives in perpetual fear of being slapped with a sedition charge for doing so."