Published: Friday August 14, 2009 MYT 2:15:00 PM
Updated: Friday August 14, 2009 MYT 3:20:27 PM

Karpal sedition trial: Reporter says she does not know Karpal's political party

By YENG AI CHUN

KUALA LUMPUR: There was a sense of disbelief in court Friday morning when a reporter said she did not know the political party which Karpal Singh belonged to.

RTM reporter Eliani Mazlan, 26, who took the witness stand on the third day of Karpal’s sedition trial, during cross-examination by Jagdeep Singh Deo.

Jagdeep: Do you know which party is Karpal Singh from?

Eliani : I am not sure.

Karpal who was also present, could not help smiling in amusement when she said that.

Jagdeep then proceeded to ask her if she was a voter. She said she was.

Jagdeep turned to the court and said “You cannot be a Penangnite,” drawing laughter from everyone. Karpal was alleged to have uttered seditious words against the Sultan of Perak at his legal firm in Jalan Pudu Lama between 12pm and 12.30pm on Feb 6.

Earlier, Jagdeep asked Eliani if she knew who Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was.

She replied that he was PKR president.

Jagdeep: Do you know PKR is part of a bigger party?

Eliani: I am not sure.

Jagdeep: Have you heard of Pakatan Rakyat? There are other component parties in Pakatan Rakyat. Do you remember?

Eliani: (silence)

Jagdeep: There is PKR, DAP and PAS. That is Pakatan Rakyat. You do remember that Pakatan Rakyat won five states in the previous general election and there was a political tsunami. Agree?

Eliani: Agree

Jagdeep pointed out that even though Karpal and Anwar are from the same party, Karpal has his own views about party hopping.

Jagdeep: So we can summarise that Karpal is not one who behaves personally but is with principles.

Eliani: I am not sure.

Jagdeep: I would suggest that is the reality of Karpal.

The witness who was only two months into her job when she went for the media conference in Feb, also told the court that she was not sure of the term ultra vires.

During the barrage of questions, Jagdeep asked her if she was sure Karpal said he would sue the Sultan.

Jagdeep: At page four, paragraph two of the video transcript, Karpal said: “In fact, I’ve stated very clearly that ‘we’ will sue the Sultan together with the new State Government as defendants if they persist. Are you sure? Karpal said he would sue the Sultan? What does it say?

Eliani: We.

Jagdeep: It is not I.

Eliani: But it could mean himself.

Jagdeep: We could mean I? Is that what you are trying to say? What was said in the transcript?

Eliani: We.

Jagdeep: So you agree that ‘we’ is not ‘I’?

Eliani: Yes.

Jagdeep: You agree that your understanding is completely a misunderstanding?

Eliani: I am not sure.

The trial continues later Friday in the afternoon 2.45pm.