DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has expressed shock over the new precedent to charge an elected representative with sedition over words uttered in a state assembly.

The Penang chief minister said no elected representative has ever been arrested and charged with sedition for insulting another political party inside Parliament or a state assembly.

If this is to be the new yardstick for prosecution, Lim demanded a guarantee from Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail (right).

“Can the AG guarantee those Umno leaders who use such vulgar and false language against DAP inside Parliament or state assemblies would be similarly arrested and charged under the Sedition Act?" he asked in a statement.

He was responding to the decision to charge DAP assemblyperson RSN Rayer with sedition for uttering the words “Umno celaka” in the state assembly.

Lim vowed that DAP would vigorously defend Rayer because it wanted to protect, preserve and defend the sanctity and supremacy of the state assembly as the symbol of parliamentary democracy.

"By wrongfully charging an elected representative for what he said inside the House against another political party, the BN federal government is going backwards in a quick descent from parliamentary democracy to parliamentary dictatorship to justify their partisan baying for vengeance.

"For Rayer (right) to be charged under the Sedition Act for statements made, which the Penang state assembly speaker had not directed him to withdraw, is clearly an act of political vengeance and abuse of power by Umno against DAP,” he added.

Furthermore, he claimed that it also reflected the double standard of the attorney-general.

Meanwhile, Lim also questioned about the action to be taken against the Umno Youth protesters who attacked the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and party office in Kuantan.

"No action has been taken against the Umno hooligans who attacked the DAP headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and DAP’s Kuantan office," he added.

The police have since recorded the statements of those involved.

Related stories

'Charging my husband insults Malay race'

Isma chief slapped with sedition charge

Isma blames DAP for president's charge

Khairy: Legal swoop shows gov't is fair

Ambiga frowns on Isma sedition charge

Assemblyperson Rayer not being charged today

Zaid: 'Celaka' + Umno = sedition

Guan Eng wants 'sedition' guarantee from AG

Teacher charged for mocking Thaipusam

Perhaps we need an Umno Protection Act