Melaka CM calm but others shocked by arrest

MELAKA: The Melaka Chief Minister remained composed during a press conference at Seri Negeri here just about an hour after a member of his executive committee was arrested by police for alleged links to a terrorist organisation.

Adly Zahari’s press conference was delayed by about half an hour as he was briefed on the reason for the arrest of G. Saminathan, who is also the Gadek assemblyman.

When questioned, Adly calmly replied he couldn’t elaborate much as it was a police matter.

“But I believe the exco member will render his full cooperation to the police, while the state government will not intervene in the investigation,” he told the press conference yesterday.

Saminathan was among seven people – including the Seremban Jaya assemblyman – arrested yesterday for alleged links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The 38-year-old is also Melaka’s Pakatan Harapan Youth chief and the state DAP’s organising chairman.

It has been learnt that Bukit Aman also raided Saminathan’s home in Durian Tunggal here shortly after his arrest.

While Adly remained calm, his colleagues in the state government expressed their shock over the arrest.

Several executive councillors believed the police action was heavy-handed.

One exco member, who declined to be named, said Adly should have been consulted by the police and briefed on the arrest before the raid was conducted.

“We understand that police officers were carrying out their duty but they should have given due respect to Adly who was inside his office at the time of the arrest,” he said.

He added that Saminathan was handcuffed before his staff and treated like a criminal.

Another exco member, also requesting anonymity, wondered if a by-election could be called for the Gadek state seat if Saminathan remains under arrest for more than 28 days under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) or is absent from the state legislative assembly early next month.

“The grassroots are already speculating that there will be a by-election if Saminathan is not released within the next few days,” he said.

Saminathan, a former lorry driver, won the Gadek state seat with a razor-thin majority of about 350 votes in the 14th General Election in May last year, defeating Barisan Nasional’s P. Panirselvam.

In SEREMBAN, state DAP vice-chief and Bahau assemblyman Teo Kok Seong said the party was shocked over the arrest of threeterm Seremban Jaya assemblyman P. Gunasekaran.

“We will get a legal team to assist him. “Gunasekaran is a well-loved and well-respected assemblyman and we are saddened by his arrest,” he said when met at Gunasekaran’s service centre.

Teo, who is also the state Urban Well-Being, Housing and Local Government and New Villages committee chairman, said he hoped the police would wrap up their probe soon.

“We hope that Guna is released quickly,” he added.

Teo also advised Gunasekaran’s constituents and party supporters to remain calm and to not speculate.

“The police should be given time to investigate the matter,” he said.

When contacted earlier, Repah assemblyman S. Veerapan said he was made to understand that Gunasekaran’s arrest was linked to his support for the now defunct LTTE.

A team from Bukit Aman arrested Gunasekaren at his house at the Rahang New Village just before 10am and then took him to his service centre in Taman Seremban Jaya.

Gunasekaran, who is also Negri Sembilan DAP deputy chief, first became Seremban Jaya assemblyman in 2008 when he won what was previously known as the Senawang state seat.