Veteran journalist Datuk A. Kadir Jasin. – Bernama
TAIPING: The investigation on veteran newsman Datuk A. Kadir Jasin (pic) for sedition and criminal defamation should stop because his allegation over the personal expenditure of the King was not a threat to the country or public safety, said a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) leader.
In a show of solidarity for Kadir, Bukit Gantang Pribumi division chief Datuk Shaharuddin Abdul Rashid said that the issue must be seen rationally, as an informative public discussion thanks to the freedom of speech and democracy.
''His allegation that RM256.9mil was spent for the upkeep and personal expenditure of Sultan Muhammad V in the 16 months since he became the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was not harming the country's sovereignty or public safety.
''For me, the space he used for the argument was right, which was on his blog, and voiced out in a democratic way.
''There is no need to zoom in on the controversy by lodging police reports, a method that only those shallow in arguments would use,'' he told a press conference here Tuesday (June 12).
Shaharuddin also said that Kadir should not have resigned as the spokesman for the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP).
''He should continue writing and bring discourse and analysis to society.
''We need to educate the public to be capable in their arguments, so that they don't get easily tricked by rhetoric,'' he added.
It was reported Thursday (June 7) that Kadir, who is also a Pribumi supreme council member, was being investigated for sedition and criminal defamation under the Sedition Act and Penal Code.
He is also being investigated under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or network service.
In another development, Shaharuddin said that his division together with Taiping Pribumi and Bagan Serai divisions pledged their support to the Perak state Pakatan government and condemned the recent attacks on the appointments of certain positions in the mentri besar office.
''Political provocations such as this are uncalled for and were aimed at disrupting the state's political stability.
''They possibly came from the Oppositions' cybertroopers, including some media organisations and social media players,'' he said.
It was reported earlier that Perak Mentri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu's appointment of former Umno leader and Perak state exco member Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin as his advisor has drawn flak, with some threatening to stage demonstrations at the state secretariat building.
Zainol Fadzi, who is Sungai Manik assemblyman, was one of the Barisan Nasional leaders who defected and joined Pakatan after GE14, enabling the coalition to form the state government.
Shaharuddin added that the support of the two former Barisan reps to the Perak Pakatan side should not be questioned.
Instead, Pakatan should be thankful as their defections enabled the coalition to form the state administration and bring change.
''And with that, it means the matter was done and dusted.
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