People can judge if it is selective prosecution, says Paulsen of sedition charge

Human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen was earlier today charged with sedition over remarks he made which had allegedly criticised the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim). – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, February 5, 2015.

Calling the sedition charge against him shocking, human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen said he would not have been charged if he were Datuk Ibrahim Ali from Perkasa or Umno minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"If I were Ibrahim Ali, Mashitah Ibrahim or Ismail Sabri, I wouldn't be charged because we all know that if you are Umno or pro-Umno, you have absolute immunity to say whatever you want.

"The IGP, PM and even the A-G would bend over backwards to explain everything in the best possible context," he told reporters after posting bail at the Jalan Duta court complex today.

Paulsen was earlier today charged with sedition over his Twitter post which allegedly criticised the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for spreading extremism via Friday sermons.

He was referring to Baling Umno wanita chief Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim who alleged late last year that the Chinese in Kedah had burnt the Quran in a prayer ritual.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, meanwhile, recently courted controversy with his Facebook post calling for Malays to boycott Chinese businesses.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday defended Ismail's post, saying the Umno minister was not targeting any specific race.

The Prime Minister's Department in a statement said the Cabinet was told that Ismail's post was a reminder for all businesses to lower the prices of their goods.

Paulsen (pic, right) told reporters today that if someone was pro-opposition or a person like him, the authorities would interpret whatever was said with extreme prejudice.

He also described the charge against him as an embarrassment to the Malaysian government.

"This is not acceptable and I think people can judge if there has been selective prosecution," he said.

Paulsen said he had no choice but to bring up the content of Jakim's sermons during the trial.

- TMI