The police are investigating Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly uttering seditious remarks at a ceramah during the Pengkalan Pasir by-election campaign in November last year.

Anwar has been summoned to have his statement recorded to assist police investigation into what has been classified under Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 which carries a maximum penalty of three years' jail and RM5,000 fine or both.

Lawyer Sankara Nair told malaysiakini that his client was ordered to give his statement via a letter dated Jan 31, 2006 which was signed by investigating officer ASP Fazlisyam Abd Majid from the Pasir Mas district police headquarters.

He said the letter did not reveal who lodged the report against Anwar who delivered the ceramah at the Pasir Mas Mini Stadium on Nov 27, 2005. Neither did it say when the report was lodged.

"I cannot comment much as we have not been given a copy of the report and we have no idea what the alleged seditious statement that my client have purportedly made.

"However, we have replied that my client will cooperate with the police and is prepared to give a statement sometime in March when he takes a break from his job in Washington."

Human rights activists have dubbed the Sedition Act as "archaic and repressive law" claiming that it breaches freedom of speech and expression.

Several politicians and newsmen had since been punished under the law including DAP's Lim Guan Eng, former Parti Keadilan veep Marina Yusoff and former Harakah editor-in-chief Zulkifli Sulong.

Telling the truth

When contacted, Fazlisyam admitted writing the letter to the former deputy premier but remained tightlipped on the details of the case. He also declined to confirm if he was the investigating officer of the case.

"I cannot give you any information because there is standing instruction not to say anything to the media. If you want details you have to get it from the state police chief," he said.

Kelantan Police Chief SAC 1 Zulkfili Abdullah could not comment as he was attending a meeting.

Speaking on the matter, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali who was present at the ceramah in question claimed that Anwar had said nothing that could be deemed seditious.

"He did not say anything to offend any race or religion He may have criticised the ruling party and its leaders but what he said was all true. What is true cannot be seditious," he emphasised.

He suspected that the report could be an attempt to discredit Anwar who has openly criticised the government and its policies.

Anwar spoke to a 10,000 strong-crowd in Pasir Mas on Nov 27 last year to support the PAS candidate who stood against a candidate from Umno in the by-election.
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PAS' Hanifa Ahmad eventually lost to Umno's Hanafi Mamat. The results are being challenged.

Anwar, who spent six years in jail on sodomy and graft charges, is currently a visiting professor in Georgetown University in Washington. He was released in September 2004 after the sodomy charge was overturned, and has since become a leading critic of the government.