Former Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is expected to be charged with criminal defamation on Monday.

He is the latest among several opposition leaders facing criminal charges after the 13th General Election.

DAP Perak chairperson Nga Kor Ming ( right ) in a statement today said Nizar was being dragged to court for his remarks against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at a forum in a 2012 speech in Ipoh.

"If the prime minister thinks Nizar defamed him, Najib should hire a lawyer to sue him for compensation instead of using the judiciary to persecute opposition leaders," he said.

He added criminal defamation was a rarely used law and invoking it reflects poorly on Najib's democratic promises.

When contacted, Nizar confirmed that he was accused under Section 500 of the Penal Code.

“Monday, 9am at Ipoh Sessions Court to hear the charge,” in a text message to Malaysiakini .

Stands to lose state rep status

Nizar, who is Perak opposition leader, can be jailed up to two years, fined, or both if found guilty.

If convicted and jailed for at least a month or fined RM2,000 or more, Nizar who is also Changkat Jering state assemblyperson will be disqualified as an elected representative.

Nga called on supporters to wear black in court on Monday as a sign of protest

Last Tuesday, PKR vice-president Tian Chua was charged with insulting the modesty of the police by allegedly uttering profanities at them while being arrested on April 14.

He was accused of the committing the offence under section 509 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to five years, a fine or both if convicted.

Also outstanding against him is a sedition charge for alleged seditious remarks delivered at a forum in May last year.

Other opposition politicians who had face the same include PKR's Padang Serai MP N Surendran, DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and the late DAP chairperson Karpal Singh.