HIDS, 1997: Lim Guan Eng sentenced for “sedition” and spreading “false information”

In 1994 it was revealed that Rahim Thamby Chik, at the time Chief Minister of Melaka, UMNO Youth head, and Dr. Mahathir loyalist, had sex with a 15 year old girl, thus having committed statutory rape. A police report was made, and subsequently the victim was taken into police custody, and held incommunicado for 8 days. The legal guardian of the victim was her grandmother, who was a resident of the constituency of Kota Melaka. After being turned away by the police when trying to see her granddaughter, she took her case to her Member of Parliament, Lim Guan Eng.

What ensued was an attempted cover-up. The victim’s reputation was attacked: it was alleged that she had sexual relations with 14 other men, all of whom were charged with the crime, though none were found guilty. However, Rahim Thamby Chik was not even prosecuted.

Furthermore, the victim was taken away and held by police under protective custody, thereby effectively “jailing” the victim, while the accused remained free. This did not sit well with LGE, who was committed to not letting the issue fade away from the public interest.

LGE proceeded with a public campaign, intending to draw the public’s attention to:

• The gross double standards of the Attorney General, who charged many other individuals for the statutory rape of the same victim, while a powerful politician was completely let off the hook.
• The inhumane injustice of effectively jailing the pregnant victim, while allowing the accused to remain free.

They had to shut LGE down.

LGE was originally convicted and fined RM15000. This was not enough, according to the AG, who appealed against the ‘leniency’ of the sentence. The Court of Appeal subsequently increased the sentence to 3 years imprisonment. A consequence of his conviction was that he was banned from holding public office for 5 years, which caused him to miss the 1999 and 2004 general elections.

Chronology of events:

• 1994: News of Rahim Thamby Chik’s sexual relationship with a minor are carried by Malaysian newspapers. In the face of an apparent cover-up effort, LGE embarks on a campaign to pressure to government to bring Rahim Thamby Chik to justice.
• 28 February 1995: LGE charged with sedition, for causing “disaffection with the administration of justice in Malaysia”.
• 17 March 1995: LGE charged with violating the Printing Presses and Publications Act, for maliciously printing a pamphlet containing false information – the specific point of contention being the use of the term “imprisoned victim” to refer to the rape victim.
• 28 April 1997: LGE sentenced for “sedition” – prompting “disaffection with the administration of justice in Malaysia” – and “spreading false information” – over the use of the term “imprisoned victim” in pamphlets distributed to the public. Fine: RM15000.
• 1 April 1998: Court of Appeal increases sentence to 3 years imprisonment. (No, it wasn’t an April Fools’ joke, although many people thought it should have been)
• 25th August 1999: LGE released early, due to good behaviour.
• Today: LGE is Secretary General of the DAP, and free to stand for elections. It’s payback time.

(This post is the first in what I hope will develop into my own “Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah” series.)