On the day former Batu Kawan Umno vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan was arrested, I was discussing with some friends, including two senior police officers, on the possibility of his lawyer Matthias Chang be hauled up.
All eight of them said 'yes' by pointing out to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act of SOSMA.
And finally, it happened today. Chang has been arrested under the new Act following in the same path of his client, Khairuddin who lodged police reports overseas.
![]()
Chang was arrested this afternoon at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, after a visit to see his client, Khairuddin. And prior to his arrest, police had questioned Chang on two separate occasions.
The ex-political secretary of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was informed of a travel ban imposed on him on September 18, together with Khairuddin as both were leaving for the US to see Federal Bureau of Investigation officials regarding 1Malaysia Development Berhad or 1MDB.
That same day Khairuddin was arrested under Section 124(C) of the Penal Code for activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
On September 23, Khairuddin was re-arrested outside the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Jalan Duta under Sosma, and is still in remand at the Dang Wangi police station.
I am not sure if the authority is a bit 'over reacting' to people like these but both deserve equal rights - to unveil the truth about 1MDB and contain the increasing tendency of our people in finding 'confidant' in foreigners since we already have a creditable police force and other enforcement agencies.
All eight of them said 'yes' by pointing out to the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act of SOSMA.
And finally, it happened today. Chang has been arrested under the new Act following in the same path of his client, Khairuddin who lodged police reports overseas.
Chang was arrested this afternoon at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, after a visit to see his client, Khairuddin. And prior to his arrest, police had questioned Chang on two separate occasions.
The ex-political secretary of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was informed of a travel ban imposed on him on September 18, together with Khairuddin as both were leaving for the US to see Federal Bureau of Investigation officials regarding 1Malaysia Development Berhad or 1MDB.
That same day Khairuddin was arrested under Section 124(C) of the Penal Code for activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
On September 23, Khairuddin was re-arrested outside the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Jalan Duta under Sosma, and is still in remand at the Dang Wangi police station.
I am not sure if the authority is a bit 'over reacting' to people like these but both deserve equal rights - to unveil the truth about 1MDB and contain the increasing tendency of our people in finding 'confidant' in foreigners since we already have a creditable police force and other enforcement agencies.
Too many such arrests is not 'healthy' to our democracy but over-freedom for inviting foreigners to meddle in our domestic affairs is also not right although some parties say nothing is wrong with it. Why go for the FBI and why not Mossad?
“It is as though there are ‘hidden hands’ that want to cover the mistakes of certain parties. This is truly unacceptable.“The latest incident was the arrest of Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or SOSMA, just because he lodged reports with foreign authorities concerning 1MDB transactions."As I recall, SOSMA is a law passed by our Parliament to curb acts of violence or terrorism."
Muhyiddin questioned how lodging reports with foreign agencies on corporate companies are deemed as terrorism.
“Has 1MDB become an institution so invincible and highly protected by the country’s authorities? I don’t think so. Lodging reports against 1MDB is not an act of terror, and 1MDB is not untouchable. 1MDB is an entity subjected to the country’s laws,” he said.
If anything, said Muhyiddin, those who report on alleged wrongdoings in 1MDB should instead be given protection.
Muhyiddin could be right, could be wrong also...