By Vilashiiney Panneerselvam | Astro Awani
Support has been pouring in online for lawyer Edmund Bon who is being investigated under the Sedition Act for his comments on fatwa and the non-Muslims.
Kawanku @edmundbon kena siasat bawah Akta Hasutan. Dia dulu dlm team guaman aku semasa rayuan kes saman ISA di Mahkamah Persekutuan 2010.
— Malek Hussin (@AbdMalekHussin) September 12, 2014
Just got on TL and found out @edmundbon to be investigated under sedition act. Time to walk is now! #MansuhkanAktaHasutan
— shaike 🏴 (@shaike49) September 12, 2014
It’s just unfair to go after @edmundbon for what he said. Grossly unfair and gross. It’s stupid too lah, he’s a lawyer bai. Backfire later.
— James (@JamesJSChai) September 12, 2014
Bon tweeted via his personal account @edmundbon that his firm Bon Advocates received a call from a police officer, who said that the lawyer is being investigated.
I will co-operate with the police, and will be meeting them when I am back for a statement to be taken. Amer Hamzah @LBMinion1 act for me.
— Edmund Bon (@edmundbon) September 12, 2014
Thank you for all the public and private messages and offers to assist. We will fight this together for all affected including #ISMA
— Edmund Bon (@edmundbon) September 12, 2014
Bon is currently being investigated for his statement that “non-Muslims are not subjected to fatwas or the Shariah court”. His comment was carried by online news portal, The Malaysian Insider on Jan 20, 2014.
In the article, he was referring to Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah’s statement on the use of the word “Allah” by the non-Muslims and on the National Fatwa Council that the word is exclusively for Muslims.
Meanwhile, Bon who is currently in Thailand said he will cooperate with authorities and testify after returning to the country.
Bon appeared to be the third lawyer in recent times to be investigated under the Sedition Act 1948.
Earlier, PKR’s vice-president N. Surendran, was charged with sedition for criticising the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
Universiti Malaya’s law lecturer, Prof Dr Azmi Sharom on Sept 2 was charged for his remarks on the Perak constitutional crisis and the process of appointing a chief minister.
Veteran lawyer, the late Karpal Singh was convicted of sedition last February over his remarks on the Perak Sultan’s role in the 2009 state constitutional crisis.