Why the 3 am arrest?...

Why the 3 am arrest?....

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain has justified today the reported arrest of caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s at 3am this morning, saying there was a worry he may abscond from his court hearing.

Following brickbats, Razarudin said police officers from the Kedah state contingent were unable to locate Sanusi yesterday night after they were informed of the Attorney General’s Chambers’ plan to charge Sanusi with alleged sedition.

“Why was he arrested at night? Firstly, when we requested the Kedah police for assistance, they discovered he was not in Kedah. And we subsequently obtained the information he was going to be at Astro Awani around 10pm, which we later found out he was not there either,” he said in a live-streamed press conference, referring to Sanusi.

“At the same time, all of our calls to inform him to attend court the next day were rejected, which include calls made to his senior private secretary and political secretary.” Due to Sanusi being unreachable, Razarudin said the former was eventually later located around Mont Kiara in Kuala Lumpur around 2.30am.

“My officers made the arrest based on an earlier news report claiming Sanusi was uninformed of him getting charged the next day. “But we had considered as we were worried he may abscond from appearing in court. That is our justification to ensure he attends court and faces the charges,” he said.

Razarudin also said a total of 58 police reports, including a report lodged by the Selangor Council of the Royal Court, were lodged against Sanusi.

Last Friday, Datuk Emran Kadir of the Selangor Council of the Royal Court demanded Sanusi issue a public apology to the state Ruler, stating that the latter’s comments were an insult as the Sultan has the prerogative to appoint the menteri besar.

At a recent political rally, Sanusi, who is also the Perikatan Nasional election director, allegedly disputed the Malay Ruler’s choice of Amirudin as the menteri besar. - MMail

Karma is real...

The Selayang Sessions Courts had imposed RM5,000 bail for each of the two charges of having uttered seditious and insulting remarks in relation to Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah near Taman Selayang Mutiara at about 11pm on July 11.

The courts have fixed Oct 4 for mention of both charges framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948 and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law which provides a maximum fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment for up to three years or both if convicted.

Outspoken Pas lawmaker Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has been prevented from issuing any statements in relation to his criminal sedition hearing.This after two Sessions Court allowed the prosecution's application for a gag order to prevent the caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar from making prejudicial statements on the case.

Solicitor-General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh applied for the order after the court heard Sanusi's charges for allegedly making seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards any Ruler.

"We would like to apply for a gag order to prevent the accused from making any comments to the public until the disposal of the case," he said briefly.Sanusi's lead counsel Datuk Shaharudin Ali did not object to the application.

Interestingly, Sanusi’s ‘plight’ has earned some sympathy from PKR Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin (above) who opined that the “SOP (standard operating procedure) in Sanusi’s police detention should be better off”.

“Making an arrest at 3am is not a sensible action,” reckoned the political secretary to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on his Facebook page. ““Sanusi is a chief minister. He is not a suspect who will run away. Arrests can be carried out early in the morning or in the evening. It should not be done in the middle of the night.”

Added the three-term Bayan Baru MP: “The police SOP set during the state of emergency should be reviewed in line with the principles of Malaysia Madani which is supported by PM Anwar. Malaysia is a country with a law as well as a Madani country.”

Alor Setar MP Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (above) has hit out at the unity government for expediting the prosecution against caretaker Kedah menteri besar (MB) Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to the extent that he became the first and fastest political leader to be charged in court. This is even when there were police reports lodged against Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) leaders pertaining to the 3R (race, religious, royalty) issue.

“All arguments and evidence will be raised to convict (him). There is a possibility of imprisonment or a fine or both, according to the provisions of the law,” Afnan who is the first Malay/PAS MP to win the Alor Setar parliamentary seat penned on his Facebook page. “What is important for them is the conviction will make DS Sanusi ineligible to contest in the upcoming state polls. If he’s ineligible to contest, then by itself he cannot be appointed as MB.”

Added the political secretary to Sanusi: “When DS Sanusi is no longer MB, then the main character who prevents all their (PH-BN) evil plans is gone. Yes, this is their main mission.” - focusmalaysia