SHAH ALAM, 30 May: The charge under the Sedition Act 1948 imposed upon a Pakatan Rakyat leader and four activists yesterday is wicked because the Act is contrary to the Federal Constitution.
Batu Member of Parliament, Tian Chua, PAS member Shafor and activists Hariz Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim, Safwan Anang and Hishamuddin Rais were charged in court because of the statements in a forum on May 13.
In fact, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had admitted that the Act restricts the freedom of speech and promised to abolish the act.
Lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo said that he will use the fact that the act is in contradiction with the Constitution as a basis to dismiss the case at the High Court.
According to Gobind, the words uttered by the three accused has no elements of sedition whatsoever.
“What was said or assumed to be inciting words are not inciting as it is,” said Gobind who is also the Puchong MP.
The five individuals were charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 at the Jalan Duta Sessions Court yesterday.
They allegedly issued seditious remarks at a forum on May 13 in Kuala Lumpur.
They pleaded not guilty and Judge Norsharidah Awang allowed them to be be set free on bail of RM5,000 each. The hearing is set on 2 July.
If convicted, they can be imprisoned for three years or fined RM5,000 or both.
Gobind described the prosecution against the five individuals as not only contrary to the Constitution but that it is also biased.
“This is an abuse of the court process where we stated that the sedition act is contrary to the federal constitution.”