Give names of Umno chiefs at meeting, AG urged

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS has urged Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to disclose the names of Umno division chiefs who attended a closed-door meeting on Aug 14 with him and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
Failing to do so may give the impression to the public that he is siding with the government, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu (pix) said.
"If he does not reveal the names, the perception that he had misused his power to satisfy the ruling party is indeed true," Mohamad.
Mohamad, who is better known as Mat Sabu, was speaking at a press conference at the party's headquarters here.
He added that the AG and IGP had not denied the matter.
Bernama reported on Aug 14 that 60 Umno division chiefs had attended the closed-door meeting in relation to the racial and religious insults made on social media. Investigations into these insults were still pending.
Mat Sabu said the closed-door meeting had resulted in many individuals being charged under the Sedition Act, although some of the police reports were lodged earlier.
"Did the AG act according to directives given by Umno leaders? Who were the Umno division chiefs who attended the controversial meeting?" he asked.
Mat Sabu also urged the AG to advise the government to abolish the Sedition Act as soon as possible and to retract all charges that had been made under the law.
"PAS and Pakatan Rakyat will give full commitment to support and aid the Gerakan Hapus Akta Hasutan (GHAH) in its fight to abolish the Act," he said.
Meanwhile, at the same press conference, GHAH representative Yap Swee Seng said the movement will hold a fundraising dinner as a show of support to the individuals who had been caught in the Sedition Act dragnet.
He said the dinner, which will be jointly organised by the non-governmental organisation Mobilisation and Democracy Movement (Badan Penggerak Demokrasi dan Mobilisasi NGO), will be held on Oct 27 at Petaling Jaya Civic Centre at 8pm.