SHAH ALAM (May 17): Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's sedition trial will proceed in the High Court here in July.
This follows deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Masri Mohd Daud informing judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin that the Perikatan Nasional election director’s representation letter has been rejected.
“The attorney general has studied the representation, and decided that the matter should proceed to trial,” the DPP told the court.
Following this, Sanusi’s trial would proceed for 10 days from July 22 as scheduled.
The other trial dates are July 23, 26, 29 and 30, followed by Aug 5, 6, 9, 12 and 13.
The case had been transferred from the Selayang Sessions Court to the Shah Alam High Court, after Aslam allowed the matter to be heard in the High Court.
Sanusi has been charged with two counts of sedition under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, for allegedly uttering words that had a tendency to incite disloyalty against a ruler, in relation to remarks he made about the then Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and sultan of Selangor.
On the first charge, Sanusi is alleged to have belittled the sultan of Selangor for having appointed Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari as the state’s menteri besar, saying that the Kedah sultanate would not have appointed Amirudin. Sanusi also alleged that the Kedah ruler’s lineage was the only one that was uninterrupted.
On the second charge, the Kedah menteri besar is alleged to have questioned the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong’s move to have a unity government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The charges are punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, which provides a maximum fine of up to RM5,000, or imprisonment for up to three years, or both, if convicted.
Sanusi was represented by Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud.