No comparison between Sanusi and Anwar's arrests, says Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no comparison between the arrests of caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 1998, says Pakatan Harapan information chief Fahmi Fadzil.

The Communications and Digital Minister said those making the comparison were trying to play up the narrative.

"This is the narrative which some are trying to play up but in reality, in 2021 a man in his 60s was detained between 3am to 4am for allegedly insulting Sanusi," said Fahmi.

"To me, that is a more accurate comparison," he added when speaking to reporters after the national level Maal Hijrah celebration on Wednesday. (July 19).

In Aug 2021, a 61-year-old man, who went by the nam "Tok Abah '' was detained in Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan over a viral video posted on Facebook for berating Sanusi.

The senior citizen was hauled to Sungai Petani for investigations for insulting Sanusi over his comment to the media for them to "sign up to get into containers for the Covid-19 dead".

Fahmi said that Sanusi's arrest should be a lesson that there are boundaries with regards to what is said about the royal institution.

"Don't insult the royal institution and try to pit the rakyat against the rulers. It is a boundary which should not be crossed," he said.

He refused to comment further on Sanusi's case as his trial is currently ongoing.