KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has pleaded not guilty to a sedition charge in connection with a political speech that allegedly touched on royal matters during the recent Nenggiri by-election.
Appearing at the Gua Musang court in Kelantan, the Pagoh MP denied the charge brought under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948. The charge provides a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or imprisonment for up to three years, or both if found guilty.
Muhyiddin, 77, made the plea before Judge Nik Mohd Tarmizie Nik Mohd Shukri, Bernama reported.
The prosecution initially requested a bail amount of RM20,000, but Muhyiddin was released on RM5,000 bail with one surety. The court has scheduled the next mention of the case for November 4 this year.
The prosecution was conducted by six deputy public prosecutors led by Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar, while Muhyiddin was represented by five lawyers, namely Amer Hamzah Arshad, Chetan Jethwani, Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Mohd Nasir Abdullah and Mariana Mat Kudin.
Muhyiddin arrived at the Gua Musang Court Complex today to face the charges related to his speech, which reportedly touched on sensitive issues of race, religion, and royalty (3R) during the Nenggiri state by-election campaign.
Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, arrived at 8.43am, accompanied by several top PN leaders including secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and information chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Meanwhile, the Federal Court of Malaysia’s e-Filing system indicated that the hearing commenced at about 9am before judge Nik Mohd Tarmizie Nik Mohd Shukri.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that Muhyiddin would be charged under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, following directives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Previously, Muhyiddin’s speech, which allegedly questioned the authority of sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah during his tenure as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, went viral on social media. – August 27, 2024