"I Beg Your Pardon?" — Tony Pua's FB Status Probed By PDRM For Allegedly Insulting Royalty
The phrase "I beg your pardon?" is commonly used to convey an apology, express annoyance, or request the speaker to repeat what they have said.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 05 Feb 2024, 12:49 PM
Former Damansara member of parliament (MP) Tony Pua is being investigated by the police for posting Facebook statuses that have been deemed seditious in nature against the the royal institution
In a Facebook status yesterday, 4 February, Pua said he will be investigated for sedition over his "I beg your pardon?" Facebook post published last Friday, 2 February.
This post coincided with the Federal Territories Pardons Board's confirmation that Datuk Seri Najib Razak's jail sentence had been reduced from 12 years to six.
"Ah. No escape after all.
"The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) himself acted very fast, very efficient, working overtime on a Sunday, paying personal attention to the reports, presumably filed by UMNO boys.
"I'll be giving my statement to the police at Bukit Aman at 1pm tomorrow (5 February)."Wish me luck!" wrote Pua, who has always been critical of the 1MDB scandal from as early as 2010.
Meanwhile, IGP Razarudin Husain said in a statement yesterday that Pua will be investigated for six statements he made on Facebook over the past few days
The statements that will be investigated are:
– "Trust me, it's not a scam"
– "Oh, wow, after all these years, Najib/UMNO cybertroopers still love me"
– "Can someone send me to jail for one year and in exchange, pay me RM50 million?"
– "Pretty please?"
– "King Klep pardoned!!"
"Such statements are seditious in nature as they incite the public to harbour resentment and disrespect towards the royal institution, pertaining to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's absolute powers in exercising his authority under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution," said Razarudin.
He added that Pua will be probed under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Razarudin's statement comes after UMNO Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh announced that the youth wing would file police reports nationwide against Pua, citing alleged disrespectful remarks against the royal institution, reported FMT.
UMNO vice-president Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail also called for Pua to remove his posts and issue an apology, warning that failure to do so could lead to legal action.
