PAS' Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad was charged with sedition in a sessions court in Kuala Lumpur today for his call two months ago for the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) to be stripped of its executive powers.

Khalid was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948.

He claimed trial and the court fixed bail at RM4,000 with one surety. PAS Kuala Krai MP Dr Hatta Ramli stood surety for Khalid.

If found guilty, Khalid stands to face a maximum of three years’ jail, a fine of RM5,000 or both.

The court also fixed Sept 22 for mention of the case.

Khalid later was confronted by a group of angry Malay youths, who hurled insults and one of them even spat on him.

The charge against Khalid is for calling the Selangor state government to amend the necessary laws in order to do away Mais’ executive powers, which he made at a press conference at the Parliament lobby on June 17.

There were three other PAS MPs with Khalid at the press conference - Hanipa Maidin (Sepang), Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (Kota Raja) and Che Rosli Che Mat (Hulu Langat) - but only Khalid was charged.

Hanipa is the lawyer representing Khalid in this case.

The sessions judge is Aswarnida Affandi, with the prosecution handled by deputy public prosecutor Suhaimi Ibrahim.

In an immediate reaction, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang tweeted: "I'm not in favour of Sedition Act. But somehow, action must be taken against MPs who try to belittle the sultan. Learn respect and maintain harmony."

‘Najib trying to show his toughness’

Khalid is the fourth Pakatan Rakyat elected representative who was charged this month alone, after PKR Batu MP Tian Chua , PKR Padang Serai MP N Surendran and PAS Changkat Jering state assemblyperson Nizar Jamaluddin .

Khalid said after being charged that this showed that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was trying to regain his ex-boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s support after for being criticised for being too soft.

“Maybe Najib is trying to show Mahathir that he had the necessary courage to take tough action. That is why he is doing this, to get Mahathir’s support,” Khalid told the reporters present.

Nevertheless, he insisted that the statement he made was to defend the Selangor sultan.

“I am very confident of this, based on what I said. I have video recordings of all my speeches pertaining to this issue, including the press conferences I have held in my office.

“It all shows that there is no intention on my part to be seditious in any manner,” Khalid said.

He also criticised the prosecution for being selective by not taking action against right-wing Malay groups that often uttered racist remarks.

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