This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 23, 2016.

KUALA LUMPUR: Law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom admitted he was afraid when he was first charged under the Sedition Act two years ago, which could have landed him in jail.

The vocal academician, 44, was afraid of losing his job at Universiti Malaya (UM), since he would have been forced to relinquish his post as a senior lecturer if he was convicted of a crime.

Yet, Azmi overcame that fear.

Even after being charged, he continued to hold talks and participate in forums to give his views on Malaysian laws and human rights.

“Sedition is a crime. And I work for a government university. Therefore a crime, no matter how unjust the law is, would have given them reason to fire me if they wanted to.”

But Azmi drew strength from his conviction that what he was doing — offering interpretations of the law and the Constitution and how it affects ordinary Malaysians — was correct and justified.

“I knew I was not breaking the law in the first place, or UM’s regulations.

“The fact that they (the Attorney-General’s Chambers) withdrew the charge proved that I was not breaking any law.

“If I knew what I was doing was correct, then why should I be afraid?” Azmi told The Malaysian Insider, a day after his acquittal.

He was charged over comments in an article about how the 2014 Selangor menteri besar crisis could have been resolved by using precedents made in the Perak government changeover in 2009.

Azmi was charged in September 2014 under Section 4(1)(b) and Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act.

“The most important thing was that I backed up all my arguments. I always back up my points by using cases. I am always careful with what I say and I try very hard not to defame.”

He was discharged and acquitted last Friday, a week after the Attorney-General’s Chambers announced that it was dropping the case against him.

Although he was glad to have been acquitted, he said he could not fully celebrate until others charged with sedition like him are also free.

Azmi, who writes a column for a local English daily newspaper, said he is neither brave nor a hero.

“To me, why should I live my life in fear? If you have an opinion, voice it. Nothing can change if people keep quiet.”

So if ponytailed Azmi did lose his job, did he have a plan B?

“Yes. Shampoo advertising.” — The Malaysian Insider