Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was charged with two counts of sedition today over his recent remarks against the royal institution.
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him separately before judges Nor Rajiah Mat Zin and Osman Affendi Shalleh.
Both charges were framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum imprisonment of three years, fine up to RM5,000, or both, if found guilty.
According to the first charge sheet, Sanusi had claimed that the Kedah sultanate is the only one in the country with an uninterrupted lineage, in an apparent dig at the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj.
The Perikatan Nasional election director then went on to say that the Sultan of Kedah would not have appointed Selangor menteri besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari to head his state.
Rajiah allowed Sanusi bail of RM5,000 in one surety and fixed October 4 for mention.
As for the second charge, Sanusi had questioned if it was true that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had decreed for a unity government to be established following the conclusion of the 15th General Election last November.
Osman set bail at RM5,000 with one surety and similarly fixed October 4 for mention.
Both judges also issued a gag order to refrain Sanusi from making any further comment pertaining to the case.
The PAS leader was accused of committing the offence when delivering a political speech at Simpang Empat, Taman Selayang Mutiara in Gombak on July 11.
Solicitor-General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh led the prosecution, while Sanusi was represented by Datuk Shaharudin Ali and Wan Rohimi Wan Daud.
