Batu MP Tian Chua today denied that his speech at a forum on May 13, 2013 was intended to incite the people to take to the streets and overthrow the ruling BN government.

He said this during cross-examination by DPP Julia Ibrahim, as a witness in his ongoing sedition trial at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur.

"Of course not," Chua said in response to Julia's suggestion that he had referred to the spending habits of the prime minister's wife, Rosmah Mansor, the government's purchase of a submarine, and non-functioning jet engines, with the intention to incite a change of government.

Julia had referred to a transcript of Chua's speech delivered at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, during a post-GE13 forum organised by Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia.

She also suggested that while Chua had earlier in his speech admitted Pakatan Rakyat's defeat by BN in the polls, his references were intended to incite the rakyat to overthrow the government.

"These sentences were (attempts to) urge or incite the rakyat to take a different stand than your own (accepting defeat)," she said, to which Chua disagreed.

Chua, however, agreed that he had said it was up to the people to decide whether they would wait another five years for the next general election to change the government.

Julia also attempted to question Chua over his experiences participating in other rallies prior to May 13, but lawyer N Surendran raised an objection on the grounds that past rallies were irrelevant to the case before Justice Zulqarnain Hassan.

Zulqarnain, however, allowed the question, to which Chua said he refused to answer.

During examination by lawyer Latheefa Koya, Chua said he had urged the rakyat to rise and state their stand in the context of a peaceful assembly, which he said is a right protected under the Federal Constitution.

Latheefa also referred to a police report lodged by a senior police officer on May 14, 2013, against Chua and eight others with regard to their speeches at the forum.

The police report was lodged on the grounds that they had rejected the outcome of the 13th general election, incited the rakyat to go down to the streets on May 18, and rallied participation for the 'Himpunan Sejuta Rakyat' gathering at Dataran Merdeka.

"My speech clearly did not question the outcome of the general election," said Chua.

Chua said he also did not at any point mention Himpunan Sejuta Rakyat, Dataran Merdeka or made references to attempts at overthrowing the government.

The hearing was postponed at about 4.30pm and will resume at 9am tomorrow.