Last Updated: 11:53am, Jun 19, 2014

GEORGE TOWN (June 19): All eyes are set on the sessions court in Penang today as the DAP's Seri Delima assembly member RSN Rayer is scheduled to be charged here for sedition over his "Umno celaka" remark – made in the Penang State Assembly last month.

Rayer is expected to be charged under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act for his utterance during assembly proceedings on May 20.

The case has drawn much concern and attention over constitutional regard due to the issue of immunity that an elected representative enjoys in a legislative house.

Meanwhile, a total of 14 men who participated in a rowdy pro-Umno demonstration that saw the assembly's chamber being violently stormed into on May 21 are also scheduled to be charged this morning at the magistrate court in the same complex.

They are expected to be charged under section 448 of the Penal Code – for "house-trespass".

The updates are as follows:

11am: George Town district police chief ACP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid informs the media that a directive has been received from the Attorney General to postpone the move to charge Rayer.

10.50am: Magistrate's court policemen urge those not involved in the case to leave the courtroom to allow sitting room for the alleged accused. The media were also asked to leave, though some remained defiantly, asserting their need to cover the case.

10.19am: The alleged 14 protestors in white shirts and dark pants, and their supporters file into the Traffic Magistrate's courtroom. The courtroom was 'borrowed' to accommodate the event. Also seen was Umno deputy state chief Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir to lend support. The room is packed to the brim with a large number of people standing.

9.13am: Rayer, Gobind and Ramkarpal enters the court building surrounded by onlookers and supporters.

9.40am: Umno members and supporters who were dressed in black disperses momentarily to have breakfast before the charging of the 14 protestors takes place at 11am.

9.35am: "This is very unusual and very rare," Gobind comments. He added that the team will be writing to the Attorney General for a clarification and to ask that the charge not be instituted against Rayer.

9.30am: As court officials sound out to reporters not to take photos in the courtroom and supporters not to clap, Rayer and the team make their way out. Once on the ground floor, Gobind explains that the person who informed him of the move not to charge yet was the head of the prosecution unit, Datuk Razali Che Ani.

9.25am: After moving from the magistrate court to the high court, Gobind informs that his team has been told by the deputy public prosecutor that he has received instructions not to charge Rayer until further notice. Rayer's legal team is not sure whether he will be charged later. They remain in the court complex. There is mild confusion among reporters and supporters.

9.05am: Rayer arrives at the Light Street entrance to applause from the supporters. He is accompanied by counsels Gobind Singh, S Raveentharan and Ramkarpal Singh.

8.50am: Security has become tight. The court's gates are closed and only those entering are quickly  vetted by police.

8.45am: A group of pro-Umno youths are also gathering at the other entrance to the court complex, at Farquhar Street, opposite the 200-year old St George's Anglican Church.

8.30am: Police FRU trucks with officers in full gear are parked beside the Penang court complex at Light Street as a crowd of DAP and Pakatan Rakyat supporters and sympathisers gathers here.


- More to follow -

For more stories, go to www.fz.com, the website for freedom of expression and fairness in articulation.