Social activist Hishamuddin Rais has been sentenced to a nine-month jail term for sedition after the High Court allowed the prosecution's appeal for a heavier sentence.

However, the court allowed for a temporary suspension of the sentence pending an appeal to the Court of Appeal with a conditional bail of RM6,000.

Previously, the Sessions Court had sentenced Hishamuddin to a fine of RM5,000 on the sedition charge, which he has paid.

In his decision today, Judicial Commissioner Nordin Hassan said Hishamuddin's speech calling the people to take to the streets to reject the outcome of the general election was a "very serious" crime.

As such, Nordin accepted the prosecution's appeal to increase Hishamuddin's sentence.

Earlier, the judicial commissioner concurred with the Sessions Court's opinion that Hishamuddin's call had the possibility of sparking unrest similar to the Arab Spring uprising in the Middle East.

As such, he said the RM5,000 fine did not match the seriousness of the offence.

"The punishment meted out by the Sessions Court does not match the seriousness of his statement and therefore does not serve as a lesson to the accused or other similar would-be wrongdoers," he said.

Hisham to appeal

Nordin added that public interest should supersede other considerations such as age when sentencing 64-year-old Hishamuddin.

Following the nine-month jail sentence, Nordin said the RM5,000 fine which Hishamuddin had already paid would be refunded.

Speaking outside the courtroom, Hishamuddin said he was disappointed by the outcome and would appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal.

Lawyer Syahredzan Johan acted for Hishamuddin.