Protect Karpal’s right to views, says Santiago

Source : Malaysiakini

May 12, 08 1:47pm

Whether or not anyone agrees with the views of DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh, they should protect his freedom of expression as well the democratic space for debate, said DAP Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago. Karpal had come under fire last week when he criticised the authority of the Perak Ruler over state matters, in relation to the transfer of Perak religious department director Jamry Sury. Jamry was reinstated some 72 hours later on Sultan’s orders, after Menteri BesarMohammad Nizar Jamaluddin tendered an apology. In a statement today, Santiago said Karpal had not intervened in the Sultan’s prerogative as head of religion in Perak, but had only pointed out that the power to transfer a civil servant lies with the state administration. Santiago also told Malay newspapers to “stop twisting the statement into a race-related issue”. “All Malaysians…see the Malay Rulers as the symbol of our nationhood and want our constitutional monarchy to function in a healthy manner,” he said. Karpal’s statement has resulted in several police reports lodged against him, accusing him of treason, insulting the monarchy and infringing the Sedition Act. However, Santiago said the government should consider a similar situation previously, when the attorney-general questioned the right of the Terengganu Ruler to appoint a menteri besar of his choice. “Should the AG and the prime minister who held the same perspective, be charged for sedition or accused of treason, too?” he asked. On Saturday, Karpal had questioned party-members and allies in Pakatan Rakyat for not having backed him in the furore. ‘Political manipulation’ In a separate statement, the Civil Society Initiative for Parliament Reform (CSI-Parliament) noted that “loyal opposition is a legitimate and necessary part of any system of democracy… including the constitutional monarchy”. “We strongly criticise the threatened use of the Sedition Act 1948 and… the accusation of treason against anyone who has a critical view of our political system, regardless of whether the person is a parliamentarian, a member of the royalty or an ordinary citizen,” the group said. The statement was signed by Dr Lim Teck Ghee (left), Wong Chin Huat, Edward Lee, Andrew Khoo and Haris Ibrahim (right). They further condemned the use of political tactics to manipulate different opinions on constitutional laws and position of Malay rulers into a “stand-off between the palace and the opposition”. Despite the crisis, CSI-Parliament expressed confidence that attempts by certain parties “to take advantage of this situation to promote ill will and hostility between races” would fail.