Veteran lawyer Karpal Singh told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that what he uttered at a press conference over the Perak constitutional crisis three years ago does not amount to sedition.

Testifying in his defence, the 72-year-old lawyer said he was merely questioning the manner of the conduct of the Perak sultan in treating the issue.

NONE “I’m not questioning the prerogative of the sultan but the manner of his conduct,” Karpal said in reply to questions from his son Gobind Singh Deo, who is also his counsel.

The 'manner' that Karpal questioned was the way in which the Perak sultan inquired on the allegiance of the three assemblypersons from Changkat Jering, Jelapang and Jelutong at the palace, which he said was improper.

Karpal said in this country, the constitution is supreme and that no one, including the rulers, is above the constitution.

Gobind was questioning Karpal as to whether, to his mind, what he said was sedition.

The veteran parliamentarian was testifying on the first day of  his defence.

The trial is being watched closely, with observers from Lawasia and the Bar Council, which is represented by Baljit Singh Sidhu.

The trial is also being monitored by the Inter-parliamentary Union, which is represented by Queen’s Counsel Mark Trowell.

The DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP is charged with sedition by having said at his Feb 6, 2009, press conference that legal action could be instituted against the Perak sultan for his role in the state constitutional crisis earlier that year.

The charge for the offence Karpal is accused of committing at his office, Tetuan Karpal Singh & Co, on Jalan Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur, is under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a jail term of three years, or both.

‘I was merely giving legal opinion’

Karpal said he called the press conference in his capacity as an MP and also as a lawyer.

“I wanted to give an opinion on the legal aspects of the situation,” he said to questions from Gobind.

NONE Besides Gobind, the other lawyers representing him are his two other sons Ramkarpal and Jagdeep Singh Deo, along with former Bar Council president Param Cumaraswamy ( left ) and RSN Rayer.

Karpal had on June 11, 2010, been acquitted and discharged without his defence being called after High Court judge Azman Abdullah ruled that there was no prima facie case against him.

However, upon the application of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Court of Appeal on Jan 20 this year ruled that freedom of speech was not absolute and ordered Karpal to enter his defence .

The Federal Court upheld the appellate court decision on March 26, this year, after it allowed the prosecution's preliminary objection that the Court of Appeal decision was not appealable .

Today’s High Court hearing will continue on Thursday, Nov 8.