Why was journalist Rex Tan arrested but an MP was not?

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Differential Enforcement in Legal Proceedings

Journalist Rex Tan was arrested and remanded for one day under the Sedition Act and Penal Code, and is under investigation for the Communications and Multimedia Act, while Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary has faced no such repercussions for a Facebook post. Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng highlighted this disparity, suggesting a potential double standard in how enforcement actions are applied to individuals based on their public statements.
Allegations Against Rex Tan and Enforcement Actions

Rex Tan was arrested and subjected to a one-day remand. The charges and investigations against him stem from his participation in a public lecture where he reportedly made statements that led to his detention. Specifically, he is facing scrutiny under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 505(c) of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. Despite offering apologies, Tan was arrested and subsequently lost his job.
Ahmad Marzuk Shaary's Facebook Post and Lack of Action

In contrast, Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary posted on Facebook in October with a title referencing the history of Palestine. According to Lim Guan Eng, this post implicitly equated non-Muslim Bumis with Israelis and Muslim Bumis with Palestinians. However, Ahmad Marzuk has not issued an apology, nor has he faced arrest or lost his position due to this post, nor has any police action been reported against him for it.
Claims of Double Standards in Enforcement

Lim Guan Eng has publicly questioned the differing outcomes for Tan and Ahmad Marzuk, labelling the enforcement against the journalist as "heavy-handed" and "excessive." He pointed out that while Tan faced legal action and professional consequences despite his apologies, the Member of Parliament did not experience any similar repercussions for his social media content. This selective application of legal measures, Lim argues, makes it difficult for government supporters to counter accusations of double standards.

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Why was journalist Rex Tan arrested but an MP was not?

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