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KUALA LUMPUR: Two Sabahans want the attorney general to prosecute PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang for allegedly making a seditious statement against Christians on his party’s body four years ago.
Maklin Masiau, 48, and Lawrence Jomiji Kinsil @ Maximilhian, 64, want a statement that Hadi had committed the crime under Section 3 of the Sedition Act of 1948.
The two, who filed the action in High Court here last week, also want a declaration that Hadi is unfit for any government post, including a position equivalent to a ministerial post.
On April 2, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the appointment of Hadi, who is a deputy from Marang, as Malaysia’s special envoy to the Middle East.
This came about a month after the PAS strongman secured his party’s support to back Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in February.
In the initial subpoena filed by Messrs. R. Kengadharan & Co, the duo said Hadi made a seditious statement in the Harakah newspaper on January 18, 2016 against Christians and / or Christian missionaries.
“More than four years have passed since the defendant (Hadi) issued the statement, but no proceedings have been started against him,” they said.
The papers of the case were delivered to the PAS headquarters here and yesterday a copy was delivered to the AG since it is a public interest litigation initiated to vindicate the rule of law.
They said the action was brought because no other person, including the prosecutor (who is also the attorney general), intended to take action against Hadi.
In their affidavit in support of the action, seen by FMT, the two also said that Hadi’s statement was also reissued by FMT on the same day.
“We respectfully believe that the accused has made an unfounded statement and has slandered Christians and / or Christian missionaries.
“The statement of the accused has affected the Christian community of the country and therefore has become a matter of public interest,” they added.
The two said Hadi’s seditious philosophy was also reflected in an August 28, 2020 statement in the Dewan Rakyat made by Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, who claimed that “the Bible was distorted.”
