DAP condemns terrorism in any form but wants the police to honour the spirit of an “accountable and transparent government” and not to have any “Deep State” mentality reflecting the past kleptocratic government

I visited the families of the two State Assemblymen arrested on Thursday under SOSMA for investigation into terrorist activities in connection with LTTE – Negri Sembilan State Assemblyman for Seremban Jaya, P. Gunasekaran and Malacca State Assemblyman for Gadek G. Saminathan, who is also Malacca State Executive Councillor in Seremban and Durian Tunggal respectively this morning.

DAP condemns terrorism in any form but wants the police to honour the spirit of an “accountable and transparent government” as highlighted by the Pakatan Harapan Government after the historic decision of the 14th General Election on May 9, 2018 and not to have any “Deep State” mentality reflecting the past kleptocratic government.

Under the previous administration, the definition of a threat to the security of the nation could mean any threat to the security of the incumbent Prime Minister or political party in power which had nothing to do with the security of the nation, like the attempt to restore the good name and dignity of the country as in the expose of the 1MDB scandal which was giving the nation the bad name of a global kleptocracy.

This was why former Batu Kawan UMNO deputy chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan was arrested under SOSMA in 2015 and why SOSMA was used in 2016 to arrest 15 Opposition leaders and prominent civil rights activists, including Maria Chin Abdullah, then Bersih Chairperson and now Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya in connection with the Bersih 5 rally on November 19, 2016.

The era when national security is the sole concern of the Police is over as national security should be the concern of all patriotic Malaysians.

While the police has the professional and specific duty to safeguard the national security of the nation, it should not act as in the past when the phrase “national security” was abused not to protect national security, but for other motives and purposes.

This is why the Police must act in a transparent and accountable fashion.

Both Gunasekaren and Saminathan are long-time DAP members and would have imbibed the DAP’s core commitment to effect political change though peaceful, non-violent and democratic means and to eschew any resort to any violence or any form of terrorism.

Gunasekaren has been in the party for 37 years and always supported the party’s 53-year commitment to carry out peaceful, non-violent and democratic change and to eschew violence of any form.

In fact, Gunasekaren has stood in six elections and has been victorious on three occasions.

I believe Gunasekaren and Saminathan are innocent of the terrorism charges. If the police have evidence otherwise, then charge them in court which will give them the opportunity to defend themselves.

The Police must be mindful of the background for the Pakatan Harapan pledge in its 14th General Election Manifesto for the repeal of repressive laws, in particular the draconian provisions in the SOSMA Act 2012.

Until the draconian provisions in SOSMA Act are repealed, there must be effective check and balance to ensure that the spirit of the Pakatan Harapan pledge of a New Malaysia is honoured and that there are no abuses of power concerning the draconian provisions in the SOSMA Act.

This is not only the responsibility of the Pakatan Harapan Government but also of the Police as well.