KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's federal police on Tuesday (Nov 14) confirmed that an opposition Member of Parliament (MP) from Parti-Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) has been called in for questioning over her alleged claim that Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Lim Guan Eng and his family were related to the late communist leader Chin Peng. 

Kepala Batas Member of Parliament (MP) Siti Mastura Muhammad was also said to have claimed that Mr Lim's father is related to Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Malaysia's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director, Mr Mohammed Shuhaily Mohammed Zain said Ms Mastura had her statement taken under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“Investigations are being conducted by the CID’s Classified Crime Investigation Unit under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act,” he said in a brief statement.

​​Section 505 (b) of the Malaysian Penal Code refers to statements that lead to public alarm and distress, while Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act refers to improper use of network facilities or network services.

Mr Mohammed Shuhaily then urged the public to refrain from making speculations as the case is still under investigation.

The police have previously said they received several reports against Ms Mastura for her alleged remarks.

Earlier this month, Ms Mastura had allegedly told a political rally in Kemaman, Terengganu, that Mr Lim’s family is related to “Lim Kuan Yew”, referring to Lee Kuan Yew — who was Singapore’s prime minister from 1959 to 1990. He died in Singapore in 2015.

She also alleged that Mr Lim and his father, former leader of DAP Lim Kit Siang, are related to Chin Peng, the former secretary-general of the Communist Party of Malaysia.

Chin Peng — whose real name was Ong Boon Hua — died in Thailand in 2013, nearly 25 years after inking the Hat Yai Peace Accords of 1988 that ended a three-way decades-long guerilla war involving the Malaysian and Thai governments and the Communist Party of Malaya. 

Both Lee Kuan Yew and Chin Peng have been repeatedly used as bogeymen by certain groups to create negative perceptions about the DAP even after clarifications have been made.

In the same video clip, Ms Mastura, who is deputy chief of PAS' women wing, purported that Mr Lim’s wife, Ms Betty Chew, is the “cousin” of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok; Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming; and Bernas MP Ngeh Koo Ham.

Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng has since asked his lawyer to pursue criminal action and legal proceedings against Ms Mastura over her alleged remarks. MALAY MAIL