Putrajaya not behind sedition charge against Muhyiddin, says Fahmi

Putrajaya is not behind the Sedition Act charges against former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, according to government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil.

Addressing a press conference this afternoon, he said it was the Pahang royal family who lodged a police report against the Perikatan Nasional chairperson.

“I want to stress once again that it was not the government that brought these cases to the court.

“The police reports were lodged by the respective palaces, be it the representative of the Selangor palace in the case against Kedah menteri besar or representative of the Pahang palace (in the Muhyiddin case),” he said.

Fahmi, who is the communications minister, was responding to criticisms against the federal government for allegedly using the Sedition Act - a draconian law from the British colonial era - against its political adversary.

The charge

Muhyiddin was charged in a Kelantan court yesterday over his speech during the recent Nenggiri by-election, which had irked the Pahang royalty for accusing the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, of thwarting his attempt to form a government after the 15th general election.

The charge, framed under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, was over a speech he gave in Felda Perasu, Kelantan, on Aug 14.

Based on the transcript attached to the charge sheet, the accusation against Muhyiddin was over his remarks where he lamented that the previous Agong did not call upon him to form the government after the last general election despite having the support of 115 MPs.

Previously, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, who is also from PN, was slapped with two charges under the Sedition Act over a remark that touched the Selangor royalty.

Legal provisions to defend royal institution

In addition, Fahmi defended the role of legal provisions including the Sedition Act, in defending the royal institution.

According to the minister, the royals have no avenue to debate and defend themselves unlike politicians, MPs and members of the public.

“Thus, it is the position of this government that we must ensure not only the sovereignty of the royal institution but also that it is defended.

“So, at this juncture, this is where our laws including the Sedition Act play its role,” he said.

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