THE legal action taken against caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor may have fuelled the spirit of Perikatan Nasional (PN)’s election machinery, claimed a PAS leader.
According to PAS Deputy President Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, the PN election director’s case has created a wave of support for the coalition.
A general survey conducted by the coalition indicated that support for PN has increased, although the same cannot be said for Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN), he added.
“Although they try to claim that [Sanusi’s arrest] is not politically-motivated, all quarters know that it is a political move that reeks of selective prosecution that also goes against PH’s earlier pledge of repealing the Sedition Act,” the Kubang Kerian MP was quoted as saying by Berita Harian today (July 20).
“This action proved to be self-destructive as several parties have released remarks opposing and disputing the legal proceeding against Sanusi after reviewing his speech, which made no reference to the Sultan of Selangor.”
Meanwhile, PAS vice president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said that while the Islamic party did not prohibit the incumbent Jeneri assemblyman from campaigning or giving speeches, Sanusi was reminded to adhere to the guidelines issued to candidates and guest speakers in the six state elections next month.
Ahmad, who is also the caretaker Terengganu menteri besar, added that PAS did not impose any action on Sanusi following the prosecution he faced yesterday (July 19).
“We won’t ban him from campaigning and we already have proper guidelines in place. The guidelines were issued not only to Sanusi who is the PAS election director but also to all PN candidates,” he was reported as saying by Berita Harian today (July 20).
On Tuesday (July 18), Sanusi was detained by a team of more than 20 police officers at his hotel at 3am in the morning and was later charged with two counts of sedition against Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at the Sessions Court in Selayang to which he pleaded not guilty to making a statement alleged to be seditious.
Both charges are framed under Section 4(1) (a) of the Sedition Act 1948 and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same law, which provides a maximum fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment for up to three years or both if convicted.
According to news reports, both judges had imposed a gag order on Sanusi to prevent him from commenting on the case. – July 20, 2023
