Nurul Izzah: My arrest was malicious, unlawful

PKR's Vice-President returns to Parliament, continues to speak out against the "desperate" ruling elite seeking to consolidate power.

KUALA LUMPUR: After spending a night locked up in police custody, PKR’s Vice-President, Nurul Izzah Anwar returns to Parliament, more determined than ever to fight against “injustice and (the) flagrant attack of democracy.”

At a press conference at Parliament lobby today, Nurul who was flanked by DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and PAS’ Khalid Samad among others said, “I would like to stress that this incident is a clear sign that the government is desperate, and resorting to cowardly tactics to intimidate the opposition.”

Nurul also insisted that her arrest was “completely unnecessary, malicious, unlawful and an assault on the institution of Parliament” and added that she would consult her lawyers regarding the legal recourse of her “unlawful” arrest.

“My arrest confirms what we have maintained all this while: Anwar Ibrahim is Malaysia’s number one political prisoner; and hidden intentions to make me a political prisoner to further consolidate power in the ruling elite,” she said.

Nurul added that this incident however was not a deterrent and confirmed to the press that Pakatan Rakyat would move to censure Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar under Section 7 of the Houses of Parliament/Act 347 (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.

The move, Nurul believes will “inculcate an understanding” in the IGP on the separation of powers in Malaysia.

“I’m pretty sure he doesn’t quite understand what democracy means.”

“We must reaffirm our Federal Constitution and Separation of Powers Principle by sanctioning the police for contempt of court in both going against the court’s decision in the ongoing investigations under the Peaceful Assembly Act Section 9 (5) as well as Section 7 Act 347,” said Nurul.

Veteran MP Lim Kit Siang, who was present at the press conference, said he felt this incident was a clear and blatant abuse of powers by the police, something that he strongly condemned.

He said, “It’s vindictive and petty, it cannot exist in a community that upholds the rule of law. It’s clear that the IGP is waging war against the Pakatan leaders and local activists.

“He should be instead waging war against Islamic State, as Asian Wall Street Journal reported 17 cases of IS militants planning for incidents around Kuala Lumpur.”

Lim added that the focus should be on real threats, instead of curbing freedom of expression and called on the IGP to stop his war against Pakatan Rakyat.

“We are not a threat to the security of the nation,” he quipped.

Lim also explained that Nurul’s arrest was a violation against Members of Parliament under Section 7 of the Houses of Parliament/Act 347 (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.

“No MP should be obstructed whether by way of arrest or other things in terms of carrying out what they do or say in parliament.

“Of course there are four items that are entrenched (that are off limits) after an amendment in 1971, which are about royalties, citizenship, Article 152 and Article 153. What Nurul has said, has nothing to do with any four of these,” he explained.

Nurul was arrested yesterday after former MP of Kulim–Bandar Baharu, Zulkifli Noordin reported her speech in Parliament to the police.