Zaid Ibrahim objects to offensive statement charge

Former minister's lawyer argues that charge is wrongly framed.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has raised a preliminary objection to a charge of making an offensive statement in calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The Star Online reported Zaid’s lawyer M Puravelan arguing that his client did not commit any offence as the charge had been wrongly framed.

Zaid was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) for allegedly having used an Internet application to voluntarily make the offensive statement. It stated that the accused was charged with an offence relating to publication by electronic means.

Puravelan argued that there was no sort of publication involved in Zaid’s case, hence there was no offence committed.

“This is making a document and initiating a transmission. These are two different things. So there is no offence known to law, and the charge needs to be dropped,” he said.

The offending article titled “Rally behind Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad” was posted on Zaid’s blog on September 3 last year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Shukor Abu Bakar requested for another date for the prosecution to respond to the preliminary objection, which the court fixed for March 4.

On September 2, Zaid allegedly gave a speech at the Royal Selangor Club, Petaling Jaya, calling for the public to rally behind former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to remove Najib, and uploaded it onto his blog the following day.

If found guilty, he could be fined a maximum of RM50,000, jailed for a year, or both.