SELAYANG: Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has claimed that the “hasty” move to charge him in court over alleged seditious statements is politically motivated.

The caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar said the reason his case was rushed was to jeopardise his chances in the upcoming state elections.

“They rushed my case….taking only three days to investigate. I received no notice that I was going to be charged.

“I only found out about it through media reports.

“They arrested me at 3am at the apartment I was staying in Kuala Lumpur,” he told reporters after he posted his bail at the Selayang Court here.

“In Malaysia, it looks like we cannot say anything. We have a government that is afraid and using the police to stop our speech.

Sanusi spoke out about what had happened to him despite an earlier gag order to bar him from speaking about the case issued by the two Sessions Court Judges who heard charges against him.

The judges allowed the prosecution’s application for a gag order to prevent the caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar from making prejudicial statements on the case.

Solicitor-General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh applied for the order after the court heard Sanusi’s charges for allegedly making seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards any Ruler.

Sanusi, who is also Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director, was charged with two counts of uttering seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards any Rulers.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

During a PN ceramah in Selayang, he was reported to have belittled Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari appointment as Selangor Menteri Besar by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

He is facing a maximum three-year imprisonment or RM5,000 fine upon conviction under Section 4(1)(a) of the Seditious Act.  NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Former de facto law minister Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim has posted his take on the controversy surrounding the Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s fallout with the Selangor royalty.

Zaid, 72, took to twitter last night and posted that people must be very careful with what they say when it comes to Malay Rulers or they would suffer the consequences.

“My advice to the common people : Do not say anything that may be construed as insulting Malay Rulers; even if unintentional.

“Do not say an MB (Menteri Besar) is a clown; as that will be insulting the Ruler for appointing a clown. Do not say Malay Rulers are wealthy ; as that could imply the wealth is improperly obtained.

“Do not say Malay Rulers are involved in timber or durian business ; or internet business. That would be demeaning .You can only praise them. Better still say nothing at all,” he tweeted.

“The most significant achievement of the Madani govt is using Sedition Act against its political opponent. When this opponent said sorry, the Madani Minister replied, ‘That’s not enough’.

“When this seditious leader said sorry to the Palace, the response was, ‘matter not settled’.

“Now that Sanusi will be charged, everyone is happy. No more pressure on the AG (Attorney-General). The Bar Council, the great defender of the rule of law, must be satisfied too,” he tweeted.

Sanusi was today charged with making seditious remarks against the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

The outspoken Pas lawmaker, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before Sessions Court judge Nor Rajiah Mat Zin.

The incumbent Jeneri assemblyman was accused of committing the offence about 11pm near Selayang Jaya in Selangor on July 11.

The offence falls under Section 4(1)(a) of the Seditious Act which carries maximum three years’ imprisonment and RM5,000 fine upon conviction. NST

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