KUALA LUMPUR: Police have called for more co-operation from journalists as they continue their probe into alleged seditious statements by DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Bakri Zinin said yesterday the force needed to record statements from the journalists who had covered Karpal when he allegedly made the statements.

"They (the journalists) are reluctant to see us. But their statements are crucial."

Bakri said 19 police reports had been lodged so far against Karpal for questioning the powers of the Sultan of Perak to order the Perak menteri besar to retract the transfer of Datuk Jamry Sury, the head of the state Islamic Religious Department.

He said police had opened two investigation papers (IPs) based on the reports.
"We are investigating the reports under the Sedition Act. The IPs are in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, where Karpal allegedly made the comments," Bakri said yesterday.

He said police had recorded several statements.

Bakri denied reports claiming that Karpal was being victimised for making remarks against the rulers when many others had done so.

He said police were also investigating Terengganu Umno secretary Datuk Rosol Wahid and 22 assemblymen who had protested against the appointment of the menteri besar following the March 8 general election.

"It is not true (that Karpal is being victimised). We are also investigating the reports against Rosol and the other assemblymen. Once completed, we will submit the IP to the attorney-general."

On another case, Bakri said the IP for the "Black 14" gathering at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru in April had been submitted to the attorney-general.

He refused to say whether a statement from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had been recorded.

It was reported that police recorded statements from four PKR leaders: president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is Anwar's wife, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, vice-president Azmin Ali and the menteri besar's special officer, Yahya Sahri.