The move to restrict opposition lawmakers Rafizi Ramli and Tony Pua from travelling overseas will backfire on the government, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man says.
The travel ban would only make the people more inquisitive about the 1MDB scandal, as well as make them perceive the government more negatively, Tuan Ibrahim said in a statement today.
"Bullying the opposition this way will only invigorate the people's demands and desires to know the truth behind the allegations against 1MDB and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
"Not only that, negative perception of the government will grow when the people see those involved in the 1MDB matter, such as the company's chairperson, its chief executive and adviser, moving about freely while those who exposed the scandal are being reprimanded," Tuan Ibrahim ( photo ) said.
The people would also see the move as politically-motivated, since former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still free to travel, despite clearly wanting Najib out as prime minister.
As such, Tuan Ibrahim said, it would be better for the government to focus on helping the special task force investigate 1MDB, instead of doing something that would bite back in the future.
‘Young voters will be angered’
Meanwhile, Kuala Terengganu MP Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad said the travel ban would only anger the young voters.
"The young know how unfair and cruel this action is. Graduates with unpaid PTPTN loans and credit cards are barred from leaving the country.
"But crooks who rob millions and billions of ringgit are free to come and go, with VIP treatment.
"Four million new voters in the 14th general election will know how to vote for the government they want. Or will these four million new voters also be accused of trying to 'topple' the government, and be charged too?" Raja Kamarul Bahrin ( photo ) said in a statement today.
Rafizi, Pua, and The Edge Media Group boss Tong Kooi Ong have been barred from leaving the country.
Police said the trio are being investigated under Section 124 of the Penal Code for alleged activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
They have been implicated in an alleged plot in which documents concerning the 1MDB scandal were falsified.
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