PSM chairman summoned by cops over forum

KUALA LUMPUR: The police have summoned Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj in connection with a statement made during a forum last month.

The Bukit Aman CID's Special Investigation Unit is expected to call up former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas who is another panellist in the forum.

Dr Jeyakumar, who was a former Sungai Siput MP, said he had received a notice from the police to assist the investigation.

"I confirm that I received the notice to go to the Ipoh district police headquarters at 10am on Thursday (Oct 20).

"However, I have an urgent matter on that day, so the appointment has been postponed to Saturday (Oct 22)," he said when contacted on Tuesday (Oct 18).

Meanwhile, when contacted, Thomas refused to comment on the matter.

The forum titled "Dark Forces Towards GE-15" was held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Sept 17.

It is believed the forum touched on racial issues.

The panellists also included DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.

PSM deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan said Thomas and other panellists had the right to express their opinions in the forum.

"That is how a matured democracy is supposed to function.

"Summoning people who spoke in a public forum will go against the spirit of free speech and freedom of expression," he said.

Bukit Aman is expected to issue a statement on the matter soon.