Leong speaks to reporters after the group had their statements recorded by police. File Photo
KUCHING: The police do not consider the ‘silent protest’ shown by the members of Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) by not standing during the national anthem as a mitigating excuse for their act, said Federal CID (prosecution and legal division) principal assistant director Mior Faridalathrash Wahid in a news report by MalaysiaKini.
He said it is the duty of every Malaysian citizen to show respect to the anthem under law.
“They (the members) have explained that the reason they did not stand up was a sign of protest.
“In our investigation, we will not take that into account. This is because when the national anthem is played, it’s the duty of every Malaysian citizen to show respect,” he was quoted as saying today.
According to Mior, Sarawak police had recorded statements from nine individuals, aged between 34 and 64.
He added that the Investigation Paper had been referred to the state Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.
“We have suggested for them to be charged,” he said, adding that the investigation was conducted under Section 8(3) of the National Anthem Act 1968.
A video, which showed the group seated around a table during a fundraising event last week while other guests stood for the national anthem went viral on social media.
It was uploaded by the group spokesperson Alex Leong onto his Facebook account under the name ‘Shaow Tung Leong’.
Except for ‘Negaraku’, it is learnt that the group stood up when the state anthem ‘Ibu Pertiwiku’ and ‘Fair Land Sarawak’ – the state anthem from 1946 until 1973 – were played.
When police took their statements on Monday, Leong told the police that the act was a ‘silent protest’ because they felt frustrated and angry with the Malaysian government and the prime minister for going back on their word or manifesto after it was announced that Sarawak would not be getting its 20 per cent oil royalty as promised.