SHAH ALAM (Nov 6): The High Court here set Dec 10 for another case management after it was informed that the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) had yet to decide on the Kedah menteri besar’s representation to drop two sedition charges against him, in relation to his alleged seditious remarks against the Sultan of Selangor and the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
High Court judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin on Wednesday set the date after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud informed the court that the AGC was still reviewing Sanusi’s representation on the charges against him.
“Today was fixed for the decision on the accused’s representation.
“I was informed that we are still reviewing the representation.
“In short, we do not have a decision yet. I propose the fixing of Dec 10 as the new mention date for us to obtain the decision on the representation and the fixing of trial dates,” he said.
Sanusi’s lawyer Hasshahari Johari Nawi agreed with the public prosecutor.
The judge then set the date, but also conveyed his thoughts on the matter, and told the parties that he hopes this would be the last.
“I will fix Dec 10, and I hope this is the final date and that a decision can be obtained,” he said with Sanusi present in the courtroom.
On July 11, 2023, a video of Sanusi's ceramah that took place in Gombak went viral, in which he allegedly insulted the Sultan of Selangor by comparing his appointment as the Kedah menteri besar to Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari's appointment as the Selangor menteri besar.
Sanusi also allegedlty uttered seditious remarks questioning Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement on the King's decree on the establishment of the unity government.
On Feb 29, the Jeneri state assemblyman maintained his not guilty plea for the two charges of uttering seditious words regarding the Selangor menteri besar's appointment and the unity government's formation during the ceramah.
In September, Sanusi sought forgiveness from Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor regarding his statement that was considered disrespectful and insulting to the ruler.
The Sultan then released a statement accepting the apology.
The trial had been poised to start in January this year, but delayed on numerous occasions due to the representation.
Meanwhile, current AG Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh is set to leave his post effective next Monday, Nov 11, and soon after will be appointed as a Federal Court judge.
It is unknown who will be the next AG.