'Deal with it', PM shoots down 'hypocrite' claim on sedition charge

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has shot down the accusation of his government being hypocritical to defend the use of the Sedition Act against Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Responding to Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin’s accusation yesterday, Anwar said Muhyiddin must face the consequences of his allegedly seditious remarks against the royalty.

“The report against Muhyiddin was lodged by the Pahang palace. So, he (Hamzah) does not need to spin. He knows, but he just wants to play politics.

“I would like to advise that this issue was raised by the Pahang palace and Selangor palace (on the case involving Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor).

“You break the law, you crossed the line, so you have to deal with it,” Anwar told reporters after a groundbreaking ceremony in Kuala Lumpur today.

Anwar, who urged against politicising the matter, said he previously kept silent and had instructed cabinet ministers to leave the matter to existing procedures - from the initial police report, questioning, and followed by the charge.

Yesterday, government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil reaffirmed that Putrajaya is not behind the Sedition Act charges against Muhyiddin, who is also the Perikatan Nasional chairperson.

Muhyiddin and Sanusi’s charges

Muhyiddin was charged in a Kelantan court on Tuesday 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, Sanusi, who is also from PN, was slapped with two charges under the Sedition Act over a remark that touched on the Selangor royalty.

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