Sri Muda rep pleads not guilty to sedition charge

Selangor's Sri Muda assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei pleaded not guilty when he was charged with sedition in the Sessions Court here this morning.

He was charged over his statements on the state secretary impasse that were posted in his blog, www.srimuda.blogspot.com, on December 30 last year.

If convicted, Shuhaimi (picture), 42, faces a maximum jail term of three years, a fine of not more than RM5,000, or both under section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

The PKR central leadership council member was accused of committing the offence under section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act at his service centre in Kota Kemuning here.

He had opposed Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi’s contentious appointment on January 1 as the state secretary.

Last month, the Selangor Anti-Fraud Coalition (GAPS) and Malay rights group Perkasa lodged a police report against Shuhaimi for allegedly insulting the Selangor Sultan on his blog.

Shuhaimi, dressed in a white shirt and black suit, was calm as the charge was read out to him in the packed courtroom.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar and Selangor executive councillors Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Yaakob Sapari were among those present in the courtroom.

Judge Latifah Mohd Tahar set bail at RM8,000 with one surety.

DPP Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria had earlier urged the court to set bail at RM20,000, calling the offence “serious” as it allegedly involved sedition against the Selangor Sultan.

Shuhaimi’s lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, however, slammed the DPP’s suggestion as “oppressive”.

“If a RM20,000 bail is set for an offence that has a RM5,000 fine, it is beyond absurdity. It is injustice,” Amer told the court.

Shuhaimi’s other lawyer, Edmund Bon, had asked the court to set a personal bond instead of bail.

“If today, a bond is given, he doesn’t have to pay RM20,000,” said Bon.

“It is just his word that is security. As an assemblyperson, my client will not abscond,” he added.

Shuhaimi’s third lawyer, N. Surendran, said the lawmaker would file an application to strike out his sedition charge on grounds that the Sedition Act is unconstitutional.

“We will be filing it in the High Court here soon,” said Surendran.

Outside the courtroom, Surendran accused Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail of using the Sedition Act to attack the federal opposition.

“There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Sedition Act is abused by the A-G... to oppress those who speak out against the government,” Surendran told reporters.

“The office of the A-G must be reformed now. One man cannot have so much power,” said the human rights lawyer.

Surendran also demanded for the abolition of the Sedition Act.

“If the government says we are a free country, abolish the Sedition Act. Drop the charges against Shuhaimi,” said the PKR vice-president.

Amer said the Sedition Act was unnecessary as the federal constitution guaranteed freedom of expression.

“This charge is a political charge,” Amer told reporters outside the courtroom.

Besides Amer, Surendran and Bon, Shuhaimi’s other lawyers are Latheefa Koya, Yusmadi Yusoff, Fahri Azzat, and Nizam Bashir.

The court set March 28 for mention of the case. - Malaysian Insider