Political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ul-Haque, better known as Zunar, said that if Apandi was really serious in his intention to uphold the principle of law and justice, he should, among others, drop charges of the much criticised Sedition Act 1948 on all others as well.
“Don’t do small things. If he (Apandi) wants to prove his commitment towards justice, he should also correct the AG Chambers’ mistake in prosecuting (former Opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim, and charge Prime Minister Najib Razak over the RM2.6 billion donation.
“A new shirt doesn’t change an individual’s personality,” he told FMT today.
Zunar himself is facing nine charges under the Sedition Act.
When asked if there was now hope for others like him who are also facing sedition charges, he said, “Don’t put so much hope (in it).
“This is because we are facing a political judiciary system. That is why we need to continue fighting for total reform, as only then can we have all the freedom provided to us under the Federal Constitution.”
Padang Serai MP and lawyer N Surendran also welcomed the latest development but opined that Azmi and others facing sedition charges should not have been charged in the first place.
“Hence, Apandi should review all the other charges and urge the government to move towards repealing the Sedition Act in its entirety.”
Surendran was charged under the Act on August 28 last year for making a seditious statement relating to Anwar’s second sodomy case.
Student activist Adam Adli, on the other hand, chose to remain optimistic. He told FMT, “I feel that Apandi’s decision shows that it is not wrong to expect good news. If he can acquit Azmi, then there should be no problem in him acquitting others.
“But whether it will help my case, we have to see when the verdict is handed out this February 18.”
Adam in 2014 was found guilty of sedition for questioning the results of the 13th General Election and for calling on Malaysians to take to the streets to give Barisan Nasional the boot. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, a verdict which he is now appealing against.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International Malaysia Executive Director Shamini Darshni, like Surendran, said Azmi should not have been charged in the first place.
“While this is a welcome gesture, it must be stressed that Azmi should not have been charged in the first place, as he was offering a professional opinion.”
Shamini also called for the other sedition charges against lawyers and activists to be dropped.
“The space for freedom of expression in Malaysia is severely waning. Malaysians must be able to express thought and opinion freely without the threat of legislation hanging over their heads in order to build a modern and democratic society.”