Editor’s note: It has been a week since UMNO president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made his controversial keynote address at the MIC 76^th general assembly, only for veteran lawmaker Lim Kit Siang ‘not giving up” scrutinising and dissecting the content of the former’s speech for criminal elements/intimidation. Here’s the 81-year-old Iskandar Puteri MP’s latest ‘findings’:

IS UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi aware that he may have committed at least three criminal offences in his speech at the MIC’s 76th general assembly last Monday (Oct 10)?

Zahid has had seven days to clarify but he has been unable to substantiate the UMNO and Barisan Nasional’s (BN) “declaration of war” for the 15th General Election (GE15) in his speech.

He said:

“Candidates from MIC, UMNO, MCA and PBRS (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah) have to win in a dominant fashion. It’s now or never. This election is the mother of all general elections. If we fail, our fate will be worse than the last election.

“Right now, only I will be charged, Tok Mat (UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan), you are on the waiting list, Vicky (MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran) don’t laugh, you are also included. What more (MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M.) Saravanan?

“(MCA president Datuk Seri Wee) Ka Siong? They won’t forget you. You will be charged as well. (Defence Minister) Hisham (Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein), don’t smile.

“To avoid this, we have to win in a dominant manner, my brothers and sisters.”

It was UMNO and BN’s declaration of war against the rule of law and an independent judiciary – against any reset or return to the original nation-building principles and policies as entrenched in the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara where there is good governance and the minimum of corruption.

Although Zahid complained that his MIC assembly speech had been “spun” by his opponents, he had not been able to explain how his MIC assembly speech was being “spun” by his “opponents” to the extent that the Perlis Mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was “stunned” by Zahid’s speech.

Nor was Zahid able to explain on whose “waiting list” Mohamad Hassan, Hishammuddin, Wee, Vigneswaran and Saravanan are to be charged in court and what are these charges – whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Police or the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC)?

Was Zahid telling a pack of lies in the UMNO and BN’s “declaration of war” for GE15?

Three criminal offences

Zahid should be aware that he could be charged for at least three offences, firstly under Section 1241 of the Penal Code which states:

“Any person who, by word of mouth or in writing or in any newspaper, periodical, book, circular, or other printed publication or by any other means including electronic means spreads false reports or makes false statements likely to cause public alarm, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years.”

Secondly, under Section 203 of the Penal Code which reads:

“Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that an offence has been committed, gives any information respecting that offence which he knows or believes to be false, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.”

And thirdly, for publishing “false news” under Section 8A of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 which states:

“(1) Where in any publication there is maliciously published any false news, the printer, publisher, editor and the writer thereof shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or both.

“(2) For the purposes of this section, malice shall be presumed in default of evidence showing that, prior to publication, the accused took reasonable measures to verify the truth of the news.

“(3) No prosecution for an offence under this section shall be initiated without the consent in writing of the Public Prosecutor.”

Before it is too late, Zahid should clarify whether he was telling a pack of lies and whether he was to be believed in what he said at the MIC Assembly last Monday (Oct 7). – Oct 17, 2022

DAP supremo and veteran lawmaker Lim Kit Siang is the outgoing MP for Iskandar Puteri.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.

“At least 3 criminal offences in Zahid’s fiery speech at MIC general assembly”