Mengkritik kerajaan bukan jenayah/Criticising the government is not a crime

[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Kami, kumpulan masyarakat sivil serta individu yang bertandatangan, mengecam sekeras-kerasnya tindakan pihak polis dan kerajaan “Madani” yang melaksanakan siasatan terhadap beberapa aktivis, ahli akademik dan pengkaji politik di bawah Seksyen 124B Kanun Keseksaan atas alasan “aktiviti yang menjejaskan demokrasi berparlimen”.

Kami berpandangan bahawa tindakan ini adalah jelas suatu bentuk intimidasi dan percubaan yang serius untuk membungkam suara rakyat daripada mengkritik kerajaan secara sah dan berfakta.

Sehingga kenyataan ini dikeluarkan, pihak PDRM telah memanggil Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), Bersih serta beberapa orang ahli akademik, pengkaji dan penganalisis politik seperti Prof Madya Syaza Shukri (UIA), Dr Mazlan Ali (UTM) dan Aziff Azuddin (Iman Research).

Menurut satu kenyataan daripada polis, seramai 14 orang telah disoal siasat. Kami mendapat maklumat bahawa lebih ramai lagi akan dipanggil oleh pihak polis dalam masa terdekat, sekali gus menimbulkan kebimbangan bahawa satu operasi yang lebih luas sedang dijalankan untuk menyiasat dan memprofilkan suara-suara kritikal dalam masyarakat sivil dan komuniti akademik.

Pihak polis telah menanyakan pelbagai soalan dalam siasatan mereka untuk menghubungkan individu atau organisasi yang dinamakan dalam emel yang sedang disiasat oleh mereka.

Sejumlah 80 soalan yang ditanyakan adalah berkenaan kritikan yang pernah ditujukan kepada kerajaan, sumber maklumat, sumber pendanaan, penubuhan kumpulan tertentu untuk mengkritik kerajaan, kesan kritikan kepada persepsi rakyat, bila pertama kali terdengar cubaan untuk menjatuhkan perdana menteri dan pelbagai lagi soalan yang cuba mengaitkan para aktivis dan ahli akademik kononnya terdapat usaha untuk menjatuhkan perdana menteri dan kerajaan secara tidak sah.

Selain daripada itu, pihak polis dalam kenyataan pada 13 Mac juga mereka sedang mengesan saksi-saksi penting dan mendakwa saksi-saksi ini sedang bergerak ke luar negara.

Adakah pihak polis ingin memberikan gambaran atau mewujudkan persepsi seolah-olah saksi-saksi ini mahu melarikan diri dan mengelakkan diri daripada disoal siasat kerana melakukan kesalahan?

Perkembangan ini amat membimbangkan terhadap kebebasan bersuara dan mengkritik kerajaan, termasuk institusi penguatkuasaan seperti Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) yang tidak ada mekanisme kawal dan imbang yang kukuh.

Corak soal siasat seperti ini memberi gambaran bahawa kritikan terhadap kerajaan sedang cuba diputarbelitkan sebagai ancaman terhadap negara. Ini adalah satu pendekatan yang amat berbahaya dan langsung tidak selari dengan prinsip sebuah demokrasi yang matang.

Apa yang kami khuatiri adalah komentar, analisis dan kritikan yang berasaskan maklumat yang sedia ada, bernas dan memberi cadangan penambahbaikan dianggap sebagai aktiviti yang boleh menjatuhkan kerajaan dan menjejaskan demokrasi berparlimen.

Walhal, kebanyakan kritikan yang ditujukan kepada kerajaan terutamanya SPRM dalam konteks pencegahan rasuah di Malaysia adalah supaya institusi-institusi demokrasi dan penguatkuasaan di negara kita diperkasakan dengan lebih baik melalui kawal dan imbang yang berkesan, bermakna dan mencegah mana-mana satu individu daripada memegang kuasa yang terlalu besar.

Sehubungan itu, kami ingin menyatakan dengan keras tuntutan kami kepada kerajaan Madani:

Hentikan intimidasi melalui penggunaan wewenang Seksyen 124B Kanun Keseksaan untuk menyiasat aktivis dan rakyat yang bersuara dan hanya menekan kebebasan bersuara atau berekspresi serta kebebasan akademik. Kritikan-kritikan yang sah dan bernas tidak wajar dianggap sebagai satu aktiviti untuk menjejaskan demokrasi berparlimen.

Malah sebaliknya, kritikan dan pandangan yang diberikan adalah untuk mengukuhkan demokrasi berparlimen di Malaysia. Perkara ini juga merupakan asas dan teras kepada demokrasi di mana Perlembagaan Persekutuan melindungi kebebasan rakyat untuk bersuara melalui Perkara 10.

Pastikan adanya ketelusan yang jelas serta pendedahan penuh mengenai niat, tujuan dan skop siasatan ini. Kekaburan atau kegagalan memberikan penjelasan yang memadai hanya akan memburukkan lagi defisit kepercayaan terhadap institusi awam.

Dalam keadaan ini, proses siasatan juga berisiko ditafsirkan sebagai satu bentuk perangkap (entrapment) terhadap rakyat yang bersuara, sekali gus menimbulkan persoalan serius tentang keadilan prosedur dan integriti institusi yang terlibat.

Kerajaan Madani tidak mempergunakan polis dan pihak-pihak penguatkuasaan yang lain sebagai senjata terhadap mana-mana pihak jika tidak selesa dengan kritikan atau pandangan yang dibangkitkan oleh mereka.

Institusi penguatkuasaan mesti kekal bebas, profesional dan tidak dipolitikkan, serta berfungsi berasaskan undang-undang dan kepentingan rakyat, bukannya digunakan untuk menekan suara yang kritikal.

Penggunaan undang-undang keselamatan negara seperti Seksyen 124B terhadap aktivis masyarakat sivil dan ahli akademik hanya akan mengukuhkan persepsi bahawa kerajaan sedang kembali kepada amalan lama – menggunakan instrumen penguatkuasaan negara untuk membungkam suara pengkritik.

Kami ingin mempersoal adakah kerajaan Madani, terutamanya Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim, telah terlupa bahawa beliau suatu ketika dulu adalah pengkritik kerajaan paling lantang, malah pernah pun dituduh sebagai ejen CIA, ejen Zionis dan pelbagai lagi gelaran bagi memberi persepsi bahawa beliau dan pakatannya dipengaruhi anasir luar yang bertujuan menggugat keharmonian negara?

Namun, mengapa kini kerajaan Madani menggunakan naratif dan taktik yang serupa bagi membungkam kritik-kritik masyarakat sivil, ahli-ahli akademik dan penganalisis politik? Tidakkah ini satu hipokrasi terbesar?

Kami menggesa kerajaan Madani agar tidak mempergunakan polis dan pihak-pihak penguatkuasaan yang lain sebagai senjata terhadap mana-mana pihak jika tidak selesa dengan kritikan yang dibangkitkan oleh mereka.

Kini adalah zaman di mana kita perlu mengorak langkah ke depan dengan mereformasikan institusi-institusi penguatkuasaan bagi melindungi rakyat, bukan membenamkan belati kepada rakyat yang mengkritik dan bersuara demi penambahbaikan institusi dan demokrasi.

Hidup rakyat! Merdeka!

English version

Do we want to return to an era when the government could not be criticised?

We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, strongly condemn and question the justification behind the actions of the police and the “Madani” (civil and trustworthy) government in commencing investigations against several activists, academics and political researchers under Section 124B of the Penal Code on the grounds of alleged “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy”.

We are of the view that this action clearly constitutes a form of intimidation and a serious attempt to silence the voices of the people from criticising the government lawfully and based on facts.

At the time of writing, the police have summoned representatives from the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), Bersih, as well as several academics, researchers and political analysts including Associate Professor Syaza Syukri (IIUM), Dr Mazlan Ali (UTM), and Aziff Azuddin (Iman Research).

According to a statement from the police, a total of 14 individuals have been questioned. We have also received information that more individuals are expected to be called in by the police in the near future, raising concerns that a broader operation may be underway to investigate and profile critical voices within civil society and academics.

The police reportedly asked numerous questions during the investigations in an attempt to link individuals and organisations named in an email currently under investigation.

A total of 80 questions were posed, covering issues such as criticisms previously directed at the government, sources of information, funding sources, the formation of groups established to criticise the government, the impact of such criticisms on public perception, when individuals first heard of alleged attempts to topple the prime minister, and various other questions seeking to associate these activists and academics with alleged unlawful attempts to bring down the government.

In addition, in its statement on 13 March, the police stated they are currently tracking down several key witnesses and alleged that these witnesses are travelling abroad.

Are the police attempting to create the impression or perception that these witnesses are trying to flee and evade questioning because they have committed wrongdoing?

These developments are deeply concerning for the state of freedom of expression and the right to criticise the government, including enforcement institutions such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which itself lacks strong and independent oversight mechanisms.

The pattern of questioning suggests that criticism of the government is being framed as a threat to the state. Such an approach is dangerous and entirely inconsistent with the principles of a mature democracy.

We fear that commentary, analysis and criticism based on available information, reasoned arguments, and constructive recommendations for reform may now be interpreted as activities that threaten parliamentary democracy or attempts to topple the government.

In reality, much of the criticism directed at the government – particularly toward the MACC in the context of anti-corruption efforts in Malaysia – is intended to strengthen democratic and enforcement institutions through meaningful checks and balances that prevent any single individual from wielding excessive power.

In the light of this, we wish to state firmly our demands to the Madani government:

Immediately cease the intimidation of activists and members of the public through the use of Section 124B of the Penal Code to investigate individuals who are exercising their right to speak out.

Such actions only suppress freedom of expression and academic freedom. Legitimate and well-founded criticism should never be construed as an activity that undermines parliamentary democracy.

On the contrary, such criticism and views are intended to strengthen Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy. This principle lies at the very foundation of democratic governance, and the Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of the people to express their views under Article 10.

Ensure full transparency and clear disclosure regarding the intent, purpose and scope of this investigation. Ambiguity or failure to provide adequate explanation will only deepen the existing trust deficit toward public institutions.

In such circumstances, the investigative process itself risks being perceived as a form of entrapment against people who speak out, raising serious concerns about procedural fairness and the institutional integrity of the authorities involved.

The Madani government must not allow the police or any other enforcement agencies to be weaponised against individuals or groups simply because those in power are uncomfortable with criticism or differing views.

Enforcement institutions must remain independent, professional and free from political interference, operating strictly in accordance with the law and in the interest of the public – not as instruments used to suppress critical voices.

The use of national security provisions such as Section 124B against civil society activists and academics will only reinforce the perception that the government is reverting to old practices – using the machinery of the state to silence critics.

We must also ask whether the Madani government, particularly Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, has forgotten that he himself was once among the most vocal critics of the government. At one time, he too was labelled with various accusations – from being called a CIA agent to a Zionist agent – in an attempt to create the perception that he and his allies were influenced by foreign actors seeking to destabilise the country.

Yet today, the Madani government appears to be using similar narratives and tactics to silence criticism from civil society organisations, academics and political analysts. Is this not the greatest form of hypocrisy?

We therefore call on the Madani government to not weaponise the police and other enforcement agencies against parties when uncomfortable with legitimate criticisms they put forth.

This is the time for Malaysia to move forward by reforming enforcement institutions so that they protect the people – not to turn their powers against people who speak out in the interest of strengthening institutions and democracy.

Issued by:

1. 1. Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih)
   2. Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center)
   3. Center for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
   4. CSO Platform for Reform
   5. Justice for Sisters
   6. Lawyers for Liberty (LFL)
   7. Pusat Komas
   8. Rasuah Busters
   9. Sis Forum (Malaysia)
   10. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)

Endorsed by:

Civil Society Organisation (CSO)

1. 1. All Women’s Action Society (Awam)
   2. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim)
   3. Beyond Borders Malaysia
   4. Borneo Komrad
   5. Cahaya Society
   6. Citizens International
   7. Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM)
   8. Family Frontiers
   9. Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan (Federasi)
   10. Five Arts Centre (FAC)
   11. Freedom Film Network
   12. Gerakan Belia Sepunjabi Malaysia
   13. Gerakan Belia Sepunjabi Malaysia
   14. Hakam
   15. Hayat
   16. Islamic Renaissance Front
   17. Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia (JKOASM)
   18. Jawatankuasa Hak Sivil – Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Kuala Lumpur Dan Selangor (KLSCAH-CRC)
   19. Jejaka
   20. Jentayu
   21. Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) Youth Section
   22. Lawyer Kamek (Sarawak)
   23. Liga Mahasiswa UTM
   24. Liga Rakyat Demokratik
   25. Mandiri
   26. Pangrok Sulap
   27. PEN Malaysia
   28. Persatuan Pemangkin Daya Masyarakat (PPDM/Rose)
   29. Pertubuhan Rangkaian Pembangunan Kesinambungan Malaysia (Susden Malaysia)
   30. Pride In Research
   31. Project Stability and Accountability in Malaysia (Projek Sama)
   32. Ruang Lawan Malaysia
   33. Sabah Reform Initiative (Sari)
   34. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
   35. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
   36. SPARC
   37. Suara Mahasiswa UMS (SMUMS)
   38. Tenaganita
   39. The Instant Cafe Theatre Company
   40. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
   41. Undi18 (Persatuan Pengundi Muda)
   42. Suara Siswa Universiti Malaya
   43. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
   44. North South Initiative (NSI)
   45. Martabat Untuk Semua Petaling Jaya (Martabat PJ)
   46. Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP)
   47. Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (TBH-ADA)
   48. Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN)
   49. Women for Equality Association (WEA)
   50. Aliran

Individuals

1. 1. Abdul Basit Hisyam Abu Khairi
   2. Abu Khairi Mat Hopi
   3. Adriana Abu
   4. Anne James
   5. Bina Ramanand
   6. Edmund Terence Gomez
   7. Foong Kok Leong
   8. Haslinah Yacob
   9. Irdina Zahari
   10. Kent
   11. Liyana Pillai
   12. Maha Balakrishnan
   13. Mahi Ramakrishnan
   14. Mohd Hafiz Chai Abdullah
   15. Mohd Khairul Nidzam
   16. Nurulhuda Abu Bakar
   17. Omar Shawkataly
   18. Ooi Kok Hin
   19. Richard YW Yeoh
   20. Rusni Tajari
   21. Syaza Shukri
   22. Tan Cher Kian
   23. YB Hassan Karim
   24. YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
   25. YB Onn Abu Bakar
   26. YB Rafizi Ramli
   27. YB Rodziah Ismail
   28. YB Wong Chen
   29. YB Zahir Hassan
   30. Yuen Phooi Chee

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