A Sedition Probe Has Been Launched Against Lawyer Fadiah For The Dataran Merdeka Rally
She had asked people to gather at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday night right after it was announced that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been named as the eighth Prime Minister by the Agong.
By Sadho Ram — 01 Mar 2020, 06:07 PM
Earlier today, 1 March, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri took to her Twitter to say that she is being investigated under the Sedition Act and has been summoned to Bukit Aman for questioning on Tuesday, 3 March
In her statement, the Oxford and International Islamic University graduate said that while many Malaysian — angry and frustrated over the scheming and power tussle by politicians over the week — were at the rally held last night at Dataran Merdeka, the police have decided to single her out.
The lawyer is also being investigated over alleged "improper use of network facilities".
"I'm now being investigated under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act and Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act. I have been summoned by the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit, Bukit Aman and will be there on Tuesday, 3 March at 11am," read the statement posted on Fadiah's Twitter.
She emphasised that this isn't just about her or any one person
"As yesterday's gathering showed, we have the strength in our solidarity. For decades we have pushed back against the State trying to divide and silence our voices and deny our rights. But we have persevered and we will continue to do so," said Fadiah, who did not make any speech at the rally on Saturday night.
"Now, more than ever, we must find and create spaces, knowledge, comfort, and strength together. We must not be intimidated. Our rights, dignity, and lives matter," she added.
Fadiah had made a brief speech at an earlier gathering that was held on Tuesday, 25 February.
While asking others to stand in solidarity, the lawyer then said that standing up for all Malaysians, should not be considered "seditious"
Standing up for ourselves and for each other is not, and cannot be harmful or 'seditious'.
The charges against her have since been confirmed by the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Huzir Mohamed
According to Malay Mail, the CID chief said that the Sedition probe against Fadiah is related to a social media post she made about the gathering at Dataran Merdeka last night, 29 February.
"The investigation is classified under the Sedition Act due to seditious tendencies as well as the Communications and Multimedia Act, which is the improper use of network facilities or services," he said.
Meanwhile, a women's rights coalition called the Joint-Action Group For Gender Equality (JAG) said that the police should stop investigating Fadiah under the Sedition Act 1948 or any other law
"We also urge the government to uphold and protect our citizens' rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association and assembly, more so during this critical time in our country," JAG said in a statement while noting that the investigation against Fadiah was "deeply troubling".
"It has been less than a day since Tan Sri Muhyiddin was announced as Prime Minister. For the people, the political situation in the country appears to be regressing.
"It is the right of the rakyat to respond to the perspective that our democracy has been stolen, and we are angry," read the group's statement, which was first published by Malay Mail.
"All of us Malaysians have the right to assemble and freely express this in a peaceful and democratic manner," JAG said, adding that this is a right accorded under the Constitution.
His accession to the country's top post comes amidst a political crisis that had left the country without a government since Monday, 24 February, after the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition collapsed.
The country's political crisis was caused by #LangkahSheraton:
