Lim says court rulings smack of intimidation

GEORGE TOWN: The conviction for sodomy and sedition of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh respectively has been labelled as political intimidation.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the timing in convicting and sentencing both opposition stalwarts is suspect.
He said the move is to disrupt Anwar's plans to contest the Kajang by-election, which was called after PKR's Lee Chin Cheh vacated the seat.
"This lends further credence to the claim of political intimidation and has resulted in widespread condemnation," Lim, who is Penang chief minister, said in a statement today.
Anwar, who is Permatang Pauh MP, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment last Friday when the Court of Appeal overturned a 2012 High Court decision to acquit him of a sodomy charge.
On Tuesday, Karpal was fined RM4,000 by the High Court for his remarks against the Sultan of Perak five years ago which the court ruled were seditious in nature.
Under the Federal Constitution, an MP is disqualified if jailed for more than a year or fined more than RM2,000.
In the wake of these developments, Lim urged the Kajang electorate to vote overwhelmingly for Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who has replaced Anwar in the by-election.