Activist warns Najib of committal proceedings

A letter from Hishamuddin Mohd Rais’ lawyers accuses Najib of creating an atmosphere of hate and prejudice against their client.

KUALA LUMPUR: Activist Hishamuddin Mohd Rais has warned Umno President and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, in a letter through his lawyers, that he will commence committal proceedings against him if video clips featuring him continue to be screened at the ongoing Umno General Assembly or future Umno general assemblies or other occasions.

The warning points out that Hishamuddin is facing a Sedition charge in Court.

The committal proceedings will also be taken for Najib’s speech at the Umno General Assembly on November 27 and subsequent negative reactions to Hishamuddin.

The warning was issued in a letter on his behalf by Messrs. Daim and Gamany and faxed to Najib as Umno President and delivered to his official Prime Minister’s residence in Putrajaya.

“In the video clip, our client was depicted as being guilty of committing the offence of sedition (hasut) under the Sedition Act 1948. The clip further demonized and portrayed our client as a serial sedition offender,” said the letter.

“We are instructed that your actions/words above create a substantial and genuine risk of prejudicing the course of the criminal proceeding against our client, and that the screening of the clip and/or your speech is sub-judice and is in contempt of Court.”

The letter goes on to accuse Najib of creating an atmosphere of hate and prejudice against Hishamuddin.

Nevertheless, the letter informs that Hishamuddin still reserves the right to take necessary steps, including but not limited to committal proceedings against Najib with regards to the screening of the video clip and/or his speech “in relation to and adverse reaction to our client on November 27”.

Hishamuddin, in a covering letter to the media with his lawyer’s letter attached, said the video clip in the view of his lawyers and him will prejudice the Sedition Act hearing against him.