Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 7.9.2013
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should cease the Federal government’s victimisation of National laureate A Samad Said’s alleged involvement in flying the Sang Saka Malaya flag during this year’s Merdeka Day eve celebrations. By attacking Pak Samad Said as “indecent and shameful”, Tan Sri Muhyiddin is playing both prosecutor and judge by passing judgment and sentencing all in one.
The midnight arrest of National Laureate Datuk A. Samad Said under the Sedition Act is nothing short of a shocking and high-handed abuse of power. At 1230am on 4 September 2013, police arrested Pak Samad at his home in Bangsar before bringing him for questioning at the Dang Wangi Police Station. He was released two hours later.
What need was there to spring such an arrest on a 78-year-old poet, as if he was a hardcore and violent criminal? Such harassment is not only uncalled for, but also extremely disrespectful to a man who has contributed so much not only to Malaysian literature but also to civil society.
If anything, Pak Samad should be treated as a source of national pride. Instead, there appears to be a coordinated attempt to humiliate and victimise him. Even Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Shabeery Cheek, has made a veiled threat to revoke Pak Samad’s National Laureate title. What is shameful is Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s lies accusing Pak Samad of hiding from the law, hence forcing police to take him into custody after he had “quietly sneaked back into his house after midnight. Pak Samad has fervently denied that he was in hiding and that he was in his house almost throughout the night.
Such arrogant statements by a Federal minister and high-handed actions by the police against an elderly and defenceless National Laureate is disgusting and should be condemned by all Malaysians. Clearly, Pak Samad is being victimised for his unwavering stand in championing issues of national importance including electoral reform in his role as the co-chairperson of Bersih 2.0.
Such harsh actions are not even taken against some who are charged for being corrupt. And the police should focus on fighting criminals instead of against a man of literature. History has proven many times and will prove once again to BN and the police that “the pen is mightier than the sword”.
LIM GUAN ENG
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Kenyataan Akhbar oleh Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng di Komtar, George Town pada 7.9.2013
Hentikan Pemangsaan Sasterawan Negara Pak Samad Said Kerana “Mata Pena Lebih Tajam Daripada Mata Pedang.”
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin harus hentikan pemangsaan oleh kerajaan Persekutuan terhadap Sasterawan Negara A Samad Said atas dakwaan mengkibarkan bendera Sang Saka Malaya pada ambang sambutan Hari Merdeka. Dengan menyelar Pak Samad Said sebagai “tidak senonoh dan memalukan”, Tan Sri Muhyiddin bertindak seperti pendakwa dan hakim.
Penahanan Sasterawan Negara Datuk A. Samad Said di bawah Akta Hasutan pada tengah malam buta adalah tindakan salah guna kuasa yang amat mengejutkan dan angkuh. Pada pukul 1230pagi 4hb September 2013, polis telah menahan Pak Samad di kediamannya di Bangsar sebelum membawanya ke Balai Polis Dang Wangi untuk disoal siasat. Beliau telah dilepaskan selepas dua jam.
Apakah perlu tindakan kejutan sedemikian ke atas seorang pensyair yang berusia 78 tahun, sedangkan beliau bukan penjenayah tegar dan ganas? Tindakan ini adalah sangat biadap dan tidak menghormati seseorang yang telah menyumbang jasa bukan sahaja kepada sastera Malaysia tetapi juga kepada masyarakat sivil.
Pak Samad sepatutnya dijulang sebagai kebanggaan negara. Sebaliknya, kita mendapati bahawa terdapat usaha terancang untuk memalukan dan memangsakan beliau. Malah Menteri Komunikasi dan Multimedia Datuk Seri Shabeery Cheek juga telah membuat ugutan untuk menarik balik anugerah Sasterawan Negara. Lebih memalukan lagi kenyataan Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar yang mendakwa bahawa polis terpaksa mengambil tindakan sedemikian kerana Pak Samad seolah-olah bersembunyi daripada polis dan “telah balik secara senyap-senyap” selepas tengah malam. Pak Samad telah pun menafikan tuduhan tersebut dan sebaliknya berkata beliau hanya berada di rumah hampir keseluruhan petang tersebut.
Kenyataan-kenyataan bongkak oleh menteri Persekutuan dan tindakan angkuh oleh polis terhadap seorang Sasterawan Negara yang juga warga emas yang tidak berupaya mempertahankan diri adalah sangat jijik dan harus dikecam oleh semua rakyat Malaysia. Jelas, Pak Samad dimangsakan atas pendirian beliau yang teguh memperjuangkan isu-isu penting negara seperti reformasi pilihan raya dalam kapasitinya sebagai pengerusi bersama Bersih 2.0.
Tindakan yang sebegitu keras tidak pun diambil terhadap mereka yang didakwa kerana rasuah. Pihak polis seharusnya menumpukan perhatian melawan penjenayah daripada melawan seorang sasterawan. Apa-apa pun, sejarah akhirnya akan membuktikan bahawa “mata pena lebih tajam daripada mata pedang”.
Lim Guan Eng