Lawyer Siti Kasim Is Being Investigated For Questioning PAS
Siti, a vocal critic of PAS, said that the investigation against her is due to her Facebook post from 26 May in which she questioned the Islamist party's way of life, their beliefs, and their mentality.
By Sadho Ram — 17 Jun 2020, 07:13 PM
Bukit Aman has launched an investigation into Siti Kasim for questioning PAS, according to the litigation lawyer cum social activist
Siti took to her Facebook profile on Tuesday, 16 June, to remark that anyone who questions the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) will be called in by Bukit Aman.
"I am one of them. Hannah Yeoh is another," she wrote, referring to the former deputy women, family, and community development (KPWKM) minister, who is being investigated for asking her successor Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff of PAS about the ministry's plans to fight child marriage.
According to Siti, she is being summoned by the police over several reports lodged against her by Muslim civil society group Pertubuhan Kebajikan Dakwah Islamiah (PEKIDA), Malaysiakini reported.
Siti, a vocal critic of PAS, said that the investigation against her is due to her Facebook post from 26 May in which she questioned the Islamist party's way of life, their beliefs, and their mentality
"Certain quarters had twisted my statement and it went viral. PEKIDA had lodged multiple reports against me," the lawyer was quoted as saying by the portal yesterday, adding that she plans to sue the NGO.
"I want to sue them for lodging false police reports based on an article from a third-party website," she said.
Police plan to take Siti's statement on Thursday, 18 June, under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
If found guilty of Section 505, she faces up to two years in jail, a fine, or both.
Additionally, if convicted of Section 233, Siti could be jailed up to one year, an RM50,000 fine, or both.
Both Siti and Yeoh are being investigated under the same charges.
What did the social activist say in her 26 May post?
In her post, the founder of a progressive NGO Malaysian Action for Justice and Unity Foundation (MAJU) had criticised the PAS' way of dealing with a way problem by changing the acronym of the Islamist party, which is now part of the Perikatan Nasional administration.
According to Siti, "Whenever there's an issue that doesn't go according to PIS way of life, their beliefs and their mentality, they will make noise when the opportunity arises to no end."
She was referring to the party's proposal to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to "immediately suspend the production, business, and sale of alcohol until all measures have been taken to prevent [drink-driving]".
Siti then remarked that the party doesn't make any such noises "when it comes to issues that they approve" while bringing up the issues plaguing the tahfiz schools in the country.
"Take for example the tahfiz abuses, the mismanagement of these places, the stupid Ostards behaving like morons, do they say anything about these? Nothing. Silent," read her post.
While asking for harsh penalties against irresponsible drinkers, Siti criticised PAS for trying to impose their morals, beliefs, and values onto others about alcohol.
"Just because you don't like it, you should not stop others from enjoying it."
She then argued that alcohol is not the problem, it's those who drink irresponsibly that are the problem, just like the tahfiz schools are not the problem, but the mismanagement of these schools.
"You want to ban alcohol just because it suits you? Then ban Tahfiz schools too for causing much damage to our innocent children," she wrote while attaching a screenshot of an article about alcohol suspension.
Meanwhile, the Joint-Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) has released a statement calling the investigations by Bukit Aman intimidation against women's voices that are critical of the government
The JAG statement, which has been endorsed by several other NGOs such as All Women's Action Society (AWAM) and Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), also noted that the current investigations come amidst organisers of the Women's March Malaysia 2020 being called in for investigation under the Peaceful Assembly Act, despite having cooperated with the police prior and on the day of the march.
"The police are familiar with the modus operandi of the organisers as this is the fourth year that the march is being held in Malaysia; and every year without fail, the organisers are called up to IPD Dang Wangi for an investigation. Women's March MY raised important policy demands, including banning child marriage."
According to JAG, the investigations are mind-boggling, but the fear they inspire is not.
"The weight of police authority and criminal investigations underline the force that is being used to intimidate women's political participation, specifically leaders of the women's movement," it said.
