Police done with recording Hadi’s statement over pardons authority dispute, says aide

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 — Marang MP Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement about the Pardons Board that fuelled controversy has been recorded by federal police today, Utusan Malaysia reported this afternoon.

The PAS president’s political secretary Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman told reporters that the recording took place at the Islamist party’s national headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut here this morning and lasted about an hour, ending at 12.30pm.

“The statement took about an hour. Tuan Guru was accompanied by a lawyer throughout the process.

“Tuan Guru gave his full cooperation and answered questions from a police officer with the rank of assistant superintendent,” Mohd Syahir was quoted as saying, using the Malay honorific meaning respected teacher to allude to Hadi.

The Malay newspaper reported that Bukit Aman criminal investigators reached the PAS headquarters about 11.20am, adding that Hadi was not spotted by the press the whole time.

Hadi is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 after he allegedly disputed the Pardons Board’s authority during an August 26 ceramah at the Bakri PAS headquarters near Muar, Johor while campaigning for the Perikatan Nasional candidates in the twin by-elections for the Pulai federal seat and Simpang Jeram state seat.

Hadi had allegedly said that the process of granting pardons to an offender in Malaysia goes against Islamic teachings.

He pointed out that the party who has the right to grant pardons or amnesties is the victim’s family member, and not the Pardons Board.

He said that PAS wants the current law to be changed to those that reflect on Islamic values.

The police have repeatedly cautioned the public against raising sensitive issues related to race, royalty and religion, saying that action will be taken against those who do not comply.