Sri Muda rep claims trial to sedition charge

Jennifer Gomez
New Straits Times
02-08-2011
Sri Muda rep claims trial to sedition charge
Byline: Jennifer Gomez
Edition: Main/Lifestyle
Section: Main Section

SHAH ALAM: Sri Muda assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with posting a seditious statement on his blog over the appointment of Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as Selangor secretary.

Dressed in a dark suit, Shuhaimi was charged with an offence under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948, which he allegedly committed on Dec 30.
Shuhaimi, who pleaded not guilty, smiled when the blog posting was read to him by the court interpreter.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria told the court that it was a serious offence and proposed bail of RM20,000 in one surety.

Lawyer Edmund Bon objected to the bail and urged judge Latifah Mohd Tahar to release Shuhaimi on a personal recognisance bond.

"Personal recognisance is suitable for this case because he is a state representative elected by the people of Sri Muda and he has two known addresses - his home in Setia Alam and his service centre in Kota Kemuning."

Bon also said the posting, which was viewed as seditious, had been reproduced in the Utusan Malaysia newspaper.

He said he would file an application in the High Court for a declaration that Section 4 of the Sedition Act was invalid and that the act could not be used against Shuhaimi as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act dealt with Internet and blog postings.

Counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad, who appeared with Bon, told the court that the bail proposed was too high, considering the maximum fine for this offence was only RM5,000.

After a short recess, the court set bail at RM8,000 in one surety and fixed March 28 for mention.

If found guilty, Shuhaimi faces a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a maximum jail term of three years, or both. He also risks losing his seat if he is convicted and sentenced to more than a year's jail or fined more than RM2,000.

Shuhaimi posted bail and left the court with his supporters at 1.20pm.

(Copyright 2011)