The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been accused of interfering with the investigation and prosecution of the business arm of human rights watchdog Suaram.

In a police report lodged today, Suaram coordinator R Thevarajan said Ismail had claimed that those behind Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd will be charged even though the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) were still carrying out investigation.

Thevarajan, in his police report to the Petaling Jaya district headquarters, also accused Ismail of acting in bad faith and urged the police to charge him for criminal defamation.

News clippings featuring Ismail's statements were appended to the police report.

Meanwhile, Suaram has urged Malaysians to lodge similar police reports against Ismail.

"We urge our friends nationwide to lodge police agianst the minister, to pressure the government and minister to stop making statement before the investigation concluded," said Suaram executive director E Nalini.

"The minister should follow the procedure, don't act like a hero just because this is a high profile case."

'PM should assist French probe'

Seven other activist who accompanied Thevarajan to the police station also lodged similar police reports, to kickstart the campaign.

The CCM began investigations after Azwanddin Hamzah, a former PKR Youth exco member turned anti-Pakatan Rakyat campaigner, questioned Suaram's legitimacy as an NGO due to the foreign funds it receives.

Following this, Ismail claimed that the CCM had violated five sections of the Companies Act 1965 and that Suara Inisiatif's owners will be charged within two days. 
 
However, the Attorney-General's Chambers have pointed out that CCM investigations were incomplete.

Suaram had claimed that they were being persecuted for exposing the wrongdoings of the Malaysian government in its procurement of French naval submarines, currently being probed by French authorities.
PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan, who accompanied Thevarajan, urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to stop the "witchhunt" against Suaram and assist investigators in France.