Police to investigate Tun M for criminal defamation - Khalid

Police will investigate former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his statements during the Bersih 4 rally under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation, said Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.

“We will record his statement because police report has been lodged by a UMNO division leader on Tun M’s speech at the rally touching on corruption,” he said after launching the International Fire and Security Exhibition and Conference (IFSEC) Thursday.

However, Khalid refused to state when Dr Mahathir will be called up for questioning.

“We will call, I am sure all of you would know then,” he said.

When asked if the former premier will be given special treatment in the probe, Khalid said he did not want to talk about it.

“I don’t want to discuss that now. We admit he is a statesman and we have to respect that,” he said.

Dr Mahathir turned up twice at the Bersih rally held on Aug 29 and 30.

Dr Mahathir said his presence at the Bersih 4 rally in the city is not a manifestation of rejecting Barisan Nasional (BN).

The former premier stressed that his attendance at the rally had nothing to do with supporting anyone or taking any sides, but merely to 'uphold the rule of law'.

The two-day Bersih 4 rally which the police declared as illegal is organised by the electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 which says it is fighting for clean and fair elections, and a clean government, among other things.

In Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, organisers stopped the rallies at midnight Saturday and at noon Sunday, respectively.