KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 24): Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) information chief Datuk Razali Idris has claimed trial over one charge of sedition over his comments on the judiciary's independence.
The 57 year-old senator at Parliament's upper house was charged before Sessions Court judge Priscilla Hemamalini Nadarajan on Friday under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, for statements he made during a speech on Nov 10 at the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery.
In his speech, the Kijal state assemblyman alleged that the judiciary and government agencies such as graft busters Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC), were under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's control.
According to the excerpt of the speech in the charge sheet, the Terengganu state exco drew reference to the criminal cases involving Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Muar Member of Parliament (MP) Syed Saddiq's case. Razali, however, did not name Zahid but merely referred to Zahid 's 47 charges.
Razali is charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datin Kalmizah Salleh had asked the court to set bail at RM10, 000, with one surety and an additional condition barring the politician from posting or commenting on the case until it's completion.
Listing down Razali's numerous family and political responsibilities, defence counsel Hasshahari Johari Mawi pleaded for bail to be set at RM1,000 and for the gag-order to be extended to the entire public.
He argued that there was no risk of Razali absconding, as he was a "family man" whose wife had heart problems, while the politician also had duties to the people of Terengganu and the nation.
Priscilla then set bail at RM6,000, with one surety and barred Razali from commenting on the case. She then set Dec 8 for the next case management date.
In a move that drew criticism from many, the prosecution in Zahid's case had informed the court that it was discounting the case against him.
Presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah then granted the Umno president a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for all 47 charges, but not before warning the prosecution that they had wasted the court's time and a "great amount of taxpayers' money" if they did not charge him again.
Syed Saddiq was found guilty of all four charges in his criminal trial and was sentenced to seven years in jail, two strokes of the rotan, and a fine of RM10 million. The Muar MP, who resigned from being Muda's party president after his conviction, is appealing the decision.
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