PETALING JAYA: Questions have been raised over the presence of a deputy minister during the charging of activist Arun Dorasamy for making statements with the intent to cause public alarm at a Jawi Magistrate's Court in Penang.
Bersatu vice-president Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin asked whether it was right for a member of Cabinet to attend court proceedings with a person who would be charged.
"The government needs to clarify this immediately," he said in a Facebook post Tuesday (March 17).
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) M. Kulasegaran was reportedly present and accompanied Arun at the court on Tuesday.
Arun was charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, where he pleaded not guilty.
He was accused of committing the offence at a shopping centre in Batu Kawan, South Seberang Perai, on March 12 at 3.45pm.
Arun was alleged to have issued a statement, urging Persatuan Hindu Agama ANI Malaysia to organise a street protest if no action was taken against independent preacher Zamri Vinoth.
Zamri, or his full name Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu, also claimed trial after being slapped with the same charge at a Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Zamri allegedly made a statement that allegedly sparked provocative debate over religious and racial issues on his Facebook account "Zamri Vinoth" at about 12.22pm on Feb 3.
