Ramasamy denies trying to evade arrest

GEORGE TOWN (Bernama): Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy on Wednesday (Oct 16), denied rumours that he was trying to run away following talks that he would be arrested by police over the activities of militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

He said it was the right of the police to detain him if there was a need for investigation purposes and the issue of him running away from the authorities did not arise.

"I am not running away, I am here. Why should I run? This is my country," he told reporters when met after the Public Transport Dialogue Session organised by the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI).

According to Ramasamy, since the arrests of several individuals linked to the activities of LTTE, he only questioned why the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) must be used for the detentions.

"Sosma should go. The issue is not questioning the police but the issue is the process of justice for those who were detained under Sosma, ” he said.

Meanwhile, Ramasamy said he still respected Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad although their opinions differed on the use of Sosma in handling the LTTE issue.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir was reported as saying that Sosma was needed and urged all parties to accept the fact that the authorities were forced to use the act because the situation was different.

"He was not angry with me. Okaylah (Dr Mahathir said) Ramasamy disagrees, not unhappy. We respect Tun (Dr Mahathir)," said Ramasamy.

Until to date, 12 individuals including two state assemblymen were detained on suspicion of supporting and channelling funds to LTTE.

The LTTE group was listed as a terrorist group in Malaysia since 2014.- Bernama