Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said today she has been summoned to Bukit Aman to answer for her tweet on the fate of the child marriage roadmap, a key Pakatan Harapan policy for the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, for which she was deputy minister.
“There was no opportunity to ask questions during May’s parliamentary session. The roadmap is the result of PH’s hardwork under @drwanazizah,” said the former deputy minister of women, family and community development in a tweet, tagging her superior Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Yeoh was referring to the five-year National Strategy Plan to end child marriage announced in January.
The tweet in question was dated March 9, in which she asked what would happen to the roadmap after the appointment of her successor and Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff.
“What will happen to our national road map to fight child marriage with the appointment of MP from PAS as deputy minister of @KPWKM?” she said, referring to Siti Zailah’s track record when it comes to the topic of child marriage.
Siti Zailah had challenged Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching in a parliamentary debate in July 2017.
“We cannot dispute marriage as stated by Kulai, who disputed why Islam allows underage marriage. For me, this is the guidance of Allah,” she said with regards to Teo’s comment on child marriage for Muslims.
Siti Zailah added that Muslims did not dispute the choice of Buddhist monks and Catholic priests to stay unmarried although this is viewed as a fundamental right.
Siti Zailah was also criticised for her infamous statement in 2013, in which she suggested a female dress code to prevent indecent dressing in public. She reportedly said such a move would also curb rising levels of sex crimes and prevent sexual harassment.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Deputy Director (Investigations/Legal) DCP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the Segambut member of parliament would get her statement recorded on June 23.
“The case is investigated under Section 505(c) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said.
Those found guilty of Section 505 – which pertains to statements conducing to public mischief – could face up to two years in jail, a fine, or both.
Those convicted of Section 233 – which involves improper use of network facilities or network service – could face up to one year in jail, an RM50,000 fine, or both. They could be further fined RM1,000 for every day the offence is continued after conviction.
Mior added that a “member of the public” had lodged a report against her tweet in question.