MP SPEAKS | I refer to a widely reported news article “Suaram leaders to be charged with trespassing on Home Ministry”.

I have received widespread appeals from civil societies to resolve this issue.

If there is indeed an intention by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to file the said charges against the Suaram duo, I would find the same deeply disturbing.

The Suaram duo were not present at the Home Ministry without purpose or for any ill-intentioned reason. It is plain that they were there simply to hand over a memorandum in relation to the well-being of detainees under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 who were on a hunger strike at the Sungai Buloh Prison.

The family members of the detainees were present at the ministry complex as well.

Any form of peaceful dialogue with the government must be encouraged, not stifled. Charging the Suaram duo in court, simply for being present at the ministry complex to hand over a memorandum, would be an affront to the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

I believe the time and investigative efforts of our authorities can be better spent on other pressing matters rather than investigating civil society and human rights activists for peaceful activities.

It is hoped that the AGC will carefully review the matter and all facts surrounding the same before moving to exercise the AG’s discretion in instituting any prosecution.

M KULASEGARAN is the Ipoh Barat MP and deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform).

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