Former Melaka Chief Minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik today pleaded not guilty to publishing a seditious post alleging that Selangor Raja Muda Tengku Amir Shah is an apostate in his Facebook account.

Abdul Rahim, 65, who was present alone in the Sessions Court here made the plea after the charge was read before judge Slamat Yahya.

He was alleged to have committed the offence via his Facebook Rahim Tamby Chik in Jalan Permata 7/1, Section 7 here at about 8 am last Sept 25.

Abdul Rahim was charged under Section 4 (1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 and is liable to be fined a maximum RM5,000 or a maximum jail term of three years or both upon conviction.

He also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of using his Facebook account to make and send comments of a seditious nature with the intention to hurt the feelings of another person at the same place, time and date.

Under the alternative charge, framed under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, he could be fined under Section 233 (3) of the same act with a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a maximum jail term of one year or both upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, who appeared for the prosecution, applied that Abdul Rahim be imposed bail of RM10,000 for both charges.

Counsel Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, who represented Abdul Rahim, however applied to the court to have his bail reduced to RM2,000.

Judge Slamat allowed bail at RM7,000 with one surety and fixed Nov 5 for a re-mention.

Besides Mohd Dusuki, the prosecution was also represented by Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz while the defence team also comprised counsel Wan Azmir Wan Majid and Ahmad Al-Hady Abdul Razak.

Prior to this, the media reported that Abdul Rahim had uploaded the status in his Facebook account alleging Tengku Amir Shah had become an apostate.

Last Sept 30, the Selangor Royal Council had issued a statement strongly denying that Tengku Amir Shah had allegedly changed religion.

But the previous day (Sept 29) Abdul Rahim was reported to have issued an open apology to Tengku Amir Shah through his Facebook and Twitter account.

- Bernama