KUCHING, April 26: PBK president Voon Lee Shan questions on what legal basis was he called by the police to give a statement recently.
Voon in a press statement today asserted his political activities are landing him in trouble with the police. He revealed he was called by the authorities to make a statement on which he assumed is about Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK)’s mission to seek Sarawak’s independence from the federation of Malaysia.
“What crime had I committed? The officer who was directed to record a statement could not give me a clue. No police officer has any right to call any citizen to give a statement unless the citizen is a witness to a crime or could throw light into crimes investigated by the police.
“No citizen suspected of crime should be forced, coerced and trapped to give a statement if the citizen chooses not to do so. The citizen suspected of a crime has a right to remain silent,” he said.
Voon said the police should not go on a fishing trip to incriminate the citizen of a crime.
“When asked, the officer said I won’t be treated as a suspect but she was directed to ask a few questions about my political activities. That means, I should be a witness but witness for what crime?” he further queried.
Voon also demanded the police state clearly their legal grounds of calling him as he is entitled to know the charges against him.
“I understand the people of Sarawak are growing in numbers wanting to see Sarawak be free and independent because the marriage with Malaya for the past 58 years is no more workable,” he said.
He argued that his stand could not be a crime because Tunku Abdul Rahman also spoke for and sought freedom and independence for Malaya from the United Kingdom when Malaya was a colony of the United Kingdom.
“Malaya was granted independence by the United Kingdom in 1957. Lee Kuan Yew also did it for Singapore from the United Kingdom but he failed. Singapore got its independence by breaking away from Malaysia in 1965 after Malaysia was formed.
“Both Tunku Abdul Rahman and Lee Kuan Yew were never called by the police about this and why was I called? There are so many pro-independence activists and why only me alone being called to give a statement? I just could not understand,” he said.
Voon asserted that his activities are within the confines of the law where freedom and independence is a universal right, and the right to seek freedom and independence is allowed under the United Nations Assembly Resolutions 1514 and 1541.
“There is also no prohibition to seek independence under domestic and international laws by peaceful and legal means.
“I am only exercising my right for Sarawak under the banner of PBK to seek Sarawak independence. I see no reason at all that police should call me for an investigation,” he said. — DayakDaily
