KUALA LUMPUR – DAP member Tony Pua is being investigated for sedition after taking many jabs at the Pardons Board’s decision to halve former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s jail term.
Aside from Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, the former Damansara MP is also being investigated for misuse of network facilities under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain has said in a statement that Pua must present himself at Bukit Aman at 1pm tomorrow to aid in police investigations.
The top cop added that reports had been lodged against Pua, alleging that he insulted the royal institution via his Facebook posts.
The investigations are being carried out by Bukit Aman’s classified crime investigation unit under the criminal investigation department.
Police cited the following posts by Pua – “Trust me. It’s not a scam”, “oh wow, after all these years, NAJIB/UMNO cybertrooper still love me”, “I beg your pardon?”, “can someone send me to jail for 1 year and in exchange, pay me RM50 mil?”, “Pretty please?”, and “King Klep pardoned!!”
“Statements such as this could incite the public to hate and insult the royal institution and Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s absolute powers provided under Article 42 of the federal constitution,” said Razarudin.
Yesterday, Pua incited the ire of Umno Youth, with the wing resorting to police action over his comments relating to Najib.
In a Facebook post, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the youth wing would be lodging police reports nationwide over Pua’s remarks, which were posted online on Friday following the Pardons Board’s decision.
“God willing, police reports will be made nationwide against (Pua) by Umno Youth for his rudeness in questioning the decision made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“See you in court a**hole,” Dr Akmal said.
On Friday, the Pardons Board secretariat for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya announced that Najib had been granted a reduced jail sentence and fine.
Najib’s jail sentence was halved from 12 years to six, while his fine was reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
He would have to serve an additional year in prison should he fail to pay the fine.
Najib began serving his prison sentence on August 23, 2022 after losing his final appeal at the Federal Court. He submitted his application for a royal pardon in September the same year.
The former Umno president was convicted by the high court in July 2020 of corruption involving RM42 million of funds belonging to SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd. – February 4, 2024