KUALA LUMPUR (April 8): The prosecution into Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s sedition case will make a preliminary objection to the former prime minister’s application to refer questions of law to the Federal Court.
The prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Razali Che Ani and accompanied by DPPs Abdul Malik Ayob and Azlina Rasdi, informed High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin of this on Tuesday.
At the same time, Muhyiddin’s counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad, who appeared with Joshua Tay and Lee Yee Wooi, informed Jamil that they would also file an affidavit to reply to the prosecution’s objection.
Following that, Jamil fixed April 29 for case management of the matter.
Muhyiddin, 76, claimed trial to the single charge where he is alleged to have questioned the then-Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s discretion in not summoning him to form the government, following the 2022 general election, as Muhyiddin claimed to have the support of 115 out of 222 parliamentarians.
The charge, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, is punishable by a maximum fine of RM5,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
Muhyiddin was first charged in August last year at the Gua Musang Sessions Court. The case was then transferred to the Kota Bharu High Court, following an application by his legal team.
His legal team then once again asked for a transfer, this time to the Kuala Lumpur High Court to hear the case.
Corrigendum: An earlier report today assigned this application to another case Muhyiddin is facing, regarding abuse of power and money-laundering. The error is regretted.