THE prosecution of Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for an offence under the Sedition Act should not be used to generate political sentiment, warned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Responding to Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin’s accusation yesterday that Anwar and Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders were hypocrites for using the Sedition Act against Muhyiddin, Anwar said the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman must face the consequences of his allegedly seditious remarks against the royalty.
“The report against Muhyiddin was lodged by the Pahang palace. So, he (Hamzah) does not need to turn it around and politicise it. He knows, but he just wants to play politics,” Anwar told reporters after a groundbreaking ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (Aug 29).
“I would like to advise that this issue was raised by the Pahang palace and Selangor palace (on the case involving Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor).
“He broke the law and crossed the line, so he has to deal with it. Reports were made and the police acted on it. Even the Inspector-General of Police took follow-up action.”
In his statement posted on Facebook yesterday, Hamzah had also claimed that Anwar and PH had repeatedly and cruelly used the Sedition Act after coming into power to pressure and oppress their political opponents.
Muhyiddin recently pleaded not guilty in the Gua Musang Sessions Court to a charge of making seditious remarks during the campaign for the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan on Aug 14.
The charge was framed under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, which provides for a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment for up to three years, or both, upon conviction, reported Free Malaysia Today.
The charge is in respect of a speech the PN chairman made during a campaign event at Felda Perasu in Gua Musang, Kelantan where he was accused of touching on 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues.
Recall that Muhyiddin was investigated by the police after reports were lodged against him over a viral video taken during the Nenggiri by-election campaign period.
In the video, Muhyiddin had seemingly questioned the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decision to appoint Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the prime minister after the 15th General Election (GE15).
The video has since drawn severe condemnation from various parties and at least 29 police reports were lodged against Muhyiddin.
Previously, Sanusi, who is also the PN election director, was slapped with two charges under the Sedition Act over a remark that touched on the Selangor royalty. – Aug 29, 2024
Main image: Bernama
