Why Paulsen, not Mashitah?

Lim Guan Eng says if the IGP is sincere in maintaining multi-racial harmony, then he should treat all sedition cases equally.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has questioned why IGP Khalid Abu Bakar is practising double standards by applying different sections of the Penal Code to Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen and former Umno Deputy Minister Mashitah Ibrahim.

Lim recounted that the IGP had said Mashitah’s case was different as she was investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code which is a non-arrestable offence.

“The IGP mentioned that a person can be arrested under the Sedition Act but not under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code,” said Lim.

He said both Barisan Nasional and Khalid practised selective investigation – one for Umno leaders and the other for the opposition.

He added that if the IGP was sincere and serious in maintaining multi-racial harmony, then he should deal with all sedition cases equally.

“If he can arrest Paulsen, why then not arrest Dr Mashitah?” he asked.

“Why is Dr Mashitah being investigated under a lesser offence in Section 505(b) of the Penal Code where the penalty is only two years’ jail, a fine or both compared with the more serious offence under the Sedition Act where the punishment is three years’ jail, a RM5,000 fine or both.

“Why such double-standards between Eric Paulsen and Dr Mashitah?

Asking if Mashitah’s statements were “less serious” than Paulsen’s, Lim also pointed out that the former’s lies were “inflammatory and provocative” as she lied about the Chinese in Kuala Kedah setting fire to a Quran during a prayer ritual, when the menteri besar of Kedah had earlier explained that the Quran “was not burnt but torn by a Malay Muslim who was mentally unbalanced and sent to hospital for treatment.”

Lim added, “The IGP should not put on the same mask to hide the failure of the Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi to explain why Zahid vouched unsolicited, for the integrity and character of gambling kingpin Paul Phua to try to secure Paul Phua’s release from the FBI.”

He said both BN and the IGP’s masks had fallen by practising selective prosecution and investigations on those who supported BN and those against BN.

“Is BN trying to distract attention from the failure of the federal government to deal effectively with the recent national flood crisis and the numerous scandals such as 1MDB and trillions of ringgit lost from illicit funds and corruption?” he asked.