By Hidir Reduan Abdul Rashid | Malaysiakini
Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin seeks the apex court ruling over the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Sedition Act 1948.
The Pagoh MP seeks the Federal Court determination in order to challenge the validity of his sedition charge linked to the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Perikatan Nasional chairperson’s counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning of their intent to file the application under Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
The counsel said this is because the case involved legal issues of “unusual” difficulty that needed to be ventilated by the apex court.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin maintained his innocence over the sedition charge linked to the allegation he was not invited by the Agong to be sworn in as prime minister after the 15th general election in 2022, despite allegedly having the support of 115 out of 222 MPs.
Prosecutors claimed the accused uttered the seditious words during the Nenggiri by-election campaign at Dewan Semai Bakti Felda Perasu, between 10.30pm and 11.50pm, on Aug 14 last year.
High Court judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin today set March 6 for mention of the case for handing over of documentation.
Deputy public prosecutor Azlina Rasdi prosecuted.
Proceedings
Muhyiddin initially claimed trial before the Gua Musang Sessions Court on Aug 27 last year.
Later, the Kota Bharu High Court allowed Muhyiddin’s application to transfer the case to the Kuala Lumpur High Court, due to the complexity of legal issues such as the constitutional validity of certain provisions in the Sedition Act.
The charge, framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the act, carries a maximum fine of RM5,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
Back in 2015, upon a constitutional referral by Universiti Malaya law lecturer Azmi Sharom, the apex court ruled that Section 4 of the Sedition Act was constitutional and valid.
