Mandiri directors remanded 3 days

KUALA LUMPUR: Three leaders from the DAP have demanded the immediate release of Mandiri executives Amir Hariri Abdul Hadi and Dobby Chew, who were detained as part of an anti-money laundering investigation. Kelvin Yii, Kasthuri Patto, and Iskandar Fareez – all members of the DAP Central Executive Committee and associated with the party's Socialist Youth – expressed worries about the appropriateness and proportionality of the actions taken against the two individuals.

In a joint statement, they questioned the necessity of the arrests when the investigation could have proceeded without removing their freedom. The trio emphasized that investigations must be grounded in evidence, fair, and free from intimidation, political bias, or any presumption of guilt. They also pointed out that freezing bank accounts, travel restrictions, office raids, and arrests should be evaluated collectively, as these measures could disrupt livelihoods, operations, and legitimate civil liberties work.

The DAP leaders stressed that peaceful organizing, advocacy for reform, demands for accountability, and criticizing the government should not be considered criminal offenses. They urged authorities to provide Amir Hariri and Chew access to legal counsel, inform them of the reasons for their arrest, and grant them all legal protections.

The statement was released in response to the arrests of Hariri and Chew, who had sought to have their statements recorded with the police as part of the Amla investigation. Mandiri co-founder Mohammad Alshatri Abdullah had previously stated that the two had been co-operating with investigators and providing requested documents.