AG urged to withdraw all sedition cases, following decision on Ali Tinju case

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has called on the Attorney-General to immediately review all pending sedition cases, in view of its decision yesterday to drop the sedition charge against Malay Armed Forces Veterans Association president Mohd Ali Baharom, ‘Ali Tinju’.

The charge was related to a speech Ali Tinju had given outside Plaza Low Yat in Kuala Lumpur in July, at the scene of mob violence sparked by the theft of a smartphone.

LFL questioned the reason given for the withdrawal of the charge, ‘insufficient evidence’ as reported in the press, considering that Ali Tinju had addressed a large crowd and his speech was recorded by many people present, including members of the press.

“The AG must be reminded there are approximately 27 sedition cases pending in court while hundreds of opposition leaders, activists and dissidents have been hauled up and investigated in the past few years,” the lawyers group said in a statement issued today.

“We wish to remind the AG that all Malaysians are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law, regardless of their political affiliation – a fundamental right safeguarded under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution,” it added.