Azmin asks: Who’s in charge, Najib or Muhyiddin?

He points to their contradictory statements on the repeal of the Sedition Act.

PETALING JAYA: Contradictory statements by the Prime Minister and his deputy on the repeal of the Sedition Act has prompted PKR Deputy President Azmin Ali to ask who is in charge in Putrajaya.

Referring to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement yesterday that the government had made no decision to repeal the act, he said it came just two days after Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, in his speech at the Jerlun Umno divisional meeting, “confirmed” his promise that it would be repealed.

In his speech at the Batu Umno meeting yesterday, Muhyiddin was quoted by The Star as saying, “The government has not made any decision yet to abolish the act, replace it with a new act or amend the current act.”

In a press statement released today, Azmin said, “Najib first made the promise in July 2012 in the run-up to the 13th GE, in what was a clear ploy to persuade Malaysians to vote for BN by promising to do away with an unpopular and unjust law.

“Najib then repeated the promise in July 2013 in a BBC interview. Then, as recently as 30 August 2014, the PM’s Department confirmed in a press release that the act would be repealed. Again, on 5 September, the PM confirmed that the act would be repealed.

“Muhyiddin’s claim that there is no decision to repeal comes just two days after Najib’s latest promise to repeal on 5 September.

“Who is the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib or Muhyiddin?”

He said Muhyiddin’s statement was “a clear admission” by the government that it had been “blatantly lying” to the public.

He urged the government to keep its promise to repeal the act and to drop all sedition charges pending in court.

He said, “The breaking of a promise by a leader to the people is a serious wrong in Islam.”