In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Amir questioned the difference between his case and those involving three others that were dismissed in April last year, despite all parties being charged under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012.
“What’s the difference? Is it because they are in government? If this is not selective prosecution, then what is it?”
Amir was referring to Amanah Youth chief Hasbie Muda, Batu PKR Youth chief Sabda Suluh Lestari Yahya and International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) student union president Aliff Naif.
In April last year, the Kuala Lumpur magistrates’ court freed the trio over their involvement in the “Turun Malaysia” rally at the Kampung Baru mosque on July 12, 2022 where some 100 people protested the rising cost of goods.
In August 2022, Amir was charged with failing to notify the police before holding the rally in front of the Sogo Complex on Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman at 2pm on Aug 14. He pleaded not guilty.
The charge was framed under Section 9(1) of the PAA and, upon conviction, is punishable under Section 9(5) with a fine of up to RM10,000.
LCS issue during GE15 campaign
In a press conference later, Amir called the LCS scandal perplexing.
“(The scandal) was a theme during the last general election (GE15) campaign among friends who are currently in the government.
“RM6 billion was spent. Yet the ships have not been completed and still far from the agreed-upon timeline,” he said.
Amir said there had been allegations that RM890 million was misappropriated, as well as of unnecessary purchases of television sets and other things that are now damaged in storage.
“It is said that politicians were involved. However, until today, only two individuals have been charged. One is the former managing director of Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd (BNS), and the other is myself.
“I believe this is a form of selective prosecution,” he added.
In August 2022, former BNS managing director Ahmad Ramli Nor was charged in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court with three counts of criminal breach of trust involving RM21.08 million.
The former navy chief was accused of fraudulently approving three payments amounting to RM21.08 million to three different firms without the approval of the BNS board.