Former Damansara member of parliament Tony Pua said he is likely to be charged within the next few weeks after police upgraded his status in an investigation linked to his Facebook post on the Rukun Negara from witness to suspect.
Pua said he was prepared to defend his innocence and uphold what he described as the spirit of the Rukun Negara and the sanctity of the Federal Constitution.
He added that although he had retired from public life, public affairs had not ceased to involve him.
Police investigation takes a new turn
According to Pua, Bukit Aman contacted him last Thursday and requested that he appear for further questioning in relation to the case. He attended the session on Monday accompanied by his lawyer, Sangeet Kaur Deo.
He said investigating officers had previously submitted the investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which later returned them to Bukit Aman for additional inquiries.
Pua said the latest interview lasted less than 30 minutes and focused mainly on the meaning of words used in his Facebook post, including the term ‘decree’.
Status changed from witness to suspect
Pua said he told investigators that the meaning of the post was consistent with what he had written and that he would be willing to provide further explanation in court if required.
He noted that there had been a significant change compared with his earlier interview with police.
According to Pua, the latest statement identified him as a suspect rather than a witness, leading him to believe that charges could be filed within the next couple of weeks.
He said the investigation is being conducted under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, while acknowledging that prosecutors could also choose to proceed under the Sedition Act.
Facebook post sparked investigation
On May 20, Pua allegedly posted that Malaysia practises a constitutional monarchy system in which the powers of the Malay rulers are generally limited to certain aspects.
The post followed remarks by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who advised state assemblyman Wong Siew Ki and former Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu to visit Dataran Selangor once a week to better understand the historical significance of the Rukun Negara.
Selangor police chief Shazeli Kahar had earlier said Pua would be called to provide a statement over the post and noted that 59 police reports had been lodged nationwide in connection with the matter.
