Group reports Syed Husin to cops for comments critical of royalty

Pertubuhan Sahabat Erat dan Amanat Rakyat (Sedar Malaysia) has lodged a police report against activist and intellectual Syed Husin Ali (photo above) for making comments critical of the monarchy during a forum on the Rome Statute in Universiti Malaya today.

Its president Nazrin Norani, who was present at the forum, lodged a police report at the Pantai police station.

During the forum, Syed Husin had commented about the royalty's involvement in state administration and economic affairs.

"Senator Syed Husin Ali had also uttered words that would incite people to go against the Malay rulers.

"I urge the police to investigate the organisers, moderators and panellists," Nazrin had said in his police report.

A former anthropology and sociology professor, Syed Husin went on to lead Parti Rakyat Malaysia and was involved in merging the party with Parti Keadilan Nasional to form PKR.

He served as a senator from 2009 to 2012.

The forum today was organised by student activists to promote dialogue on the Rome Statute.

The students had accused four academics of giving a biased view of the Rome Statute to the Conference of Rulers.

They were International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) law professor Shamrahayu Abdul Aziz, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) law lecturer Fareed Mohd Hassan, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) law professor Rahmat Mohamad and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (Usim) law lecturer Hisham Hanapi.

The four were invited to the forum but did not turn up.

Others present at the forum were Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, G25 member Noor Farida Ariffin, constitutional expert Shad Saleem Faruqi and lawyer Lim Wei Jiet.