PKR: Putrajaya using Hitler, Stalin-style persecution

The Najib administration has been accused of abusing its power by bringing additional court charges against Anwar Ibrahim and two other PKR figures over the Bersih 3.0 rally.

In a press release today, PKR vice-president N Surendran said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, through his control of the police and the Attorney-General, was directly responsible for the new charges.

Surendran said the charges drawn up by the Najib administration was similar to tactics adopted by Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin - trumping-up criminal charges against political opponents.

“The charges are baseless, politically motivated and a shocking abuse of government power... Criminalising and jailing the opposition is a classic tactic of violent, authoritarian and undemocratic regimes,” he said.

Surendran said the legal process was being manipulated with complete disregard for the rule of law. He said this presents a serious threat to democracy.

“Najib's subversion and undermining of our democratic values is an unforgivable act of treachery against the people of this nation.

“Najib's actions also undermine and destroy national institutions such as the police, judiciary and prosecution agencies which are meant to be independent and impartial,” he said.

Surendran said PKR called upon the Najib administration to drop all criminal charges against Anwar and others arising from the Bersih 3.0 rally, and instead engage the opposition in constructive political debate and discussion.

Anwar, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and former PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin were today charged with abetting a group, who were accused of violating a court order barring the public from entering Dataran Merdeka on April 28.

On May 22, the trio were charged with violating Section 4(2)(c) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 for participating in the rally and violating the court order at between 2.30pm and 3pm during the rally.