Hannah Yeoh, Bar members slammed for hypocrisy over police report against 'seditious' posts

Bersatu has urged Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh not to use the police to silence criticism of her after the High Court dismissed her defamation suit against former police chief Musa Hassan over his remarks linking the DAP leader to Christian evangelists.

"Since when is it the job of the police to protect the reputation of the minister?" asked deputy chairman of the party's Legal and Constitutional Bureau, Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif.

"Why is she wasting the time and limited resources of the police to protect her personal reputation?"

Sasha also took to task members of the Malaysian Bar for assisting Yeoh in filing the report.

"This is contrary to the Bar Council’s longstanding position that the Sedition Act must be abolished and repealed immediately," she said.

She said Yeoh should either sue her critics if she felt defamed or counter their claims and arguments through public statements.

"Instead of addressing the criticism or questions by the general public who are concerned about alleged evangelical ideologies, she has resorted to using the police to silence people by claiming that it is seditious."

Sasha said there was no legal basis for Yeoh's claim that her critics were seditious.

"Under the Sedition Act 1948, criticism of a government minister does not fall under the category of sedition," she added.

On Dec 31, Yeoh lodge a police report, claiming there were "too many seditious social media posts" following the outcome of her suit against Musa.

The suit related to comments Musa had made at a forum four years ago in which he allegedly accused her of having links to evangelicals who could undermine Islam in Malaysia.

Following the court's ruling, Musa's lawyers said Yeoh herself had admitted in her book "Becoming Hannah" to "subtly teaching Christianity" in Malaysia upon her return from studies abroad, in addition to her claim of fulfilling her role as an "Ambassador of God" to "spread the teachings of her God through political office".

The lawyers also quoted several excerpts from Yeoh's book that formed part of the defence's arguments, which were soon shared on social media, sparking a debate on her suitability to remain in the Cabinet.

"God wants to reclaim politics and public service in Malaysia for righteousness' sake. He is looking for God-fearing men and women who are willing to roll up their sleeves and labour in this very demanding field," reads an extract from Yeoh's book.

Yeoh said criticism of her on social media was the work of "religious extremists".

"As has occured many times in my political career, my faith has again become political fodder by religious extremists," she said.

Sasha, meanwhile, said it was wrong for Yeoh to say that her defamation case against Musa was not over due to her appeal.

"The High Court judgment is valid, binding and enforceable until and unless it is set aside on appeal," she said.

"Hannah must understand that this was not an interim or temporary judgment. Her failure to comprehend this is surprising as she is herself a lawyer by training."

Sasha said Yeoh should accept that as part of the government, she will be subjected to questions and criticism from the people.

"Sometimes the criticism may be harsh or even untrue. But this is the time-honoured process in a democratic country. An elected leader must understand and accept this, instead of resorting to having her critics arrested by the police.

"Isn’t this the robust democracy Pakatan Harapan and DAP demanded for and took to the streets for when they were the opposition?"