PETALING JAYA: If the Sedition Act was wrong then, it is still wrong now, says lawyer N. Surendran.
Commenting on the charges against Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris, Surendran, who was Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's former lawyer, said there is no excuse for using the Sedition Act.
"I too was charged with sedition for criticising the judiciary when defending Anwar in his sodomy case.
"Anwar criticised the charges against me and called it intimidation. It was wrong then, it's wrong now!" he said.
Surendran was acquitted and discharged of charges under the Sedition Act in 2018.
Razali, 57, was charged in the Sessions Court on Friday (Nov 24) with making a speech of a seditious nature against the judiciary and government at the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery on Nov 10.
He pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to him before Judge N. Priscilla Hemamalini.
He was charged with making insulting remarks at Padang Astaka Chukai, Kemaman in Terengganu between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on the night in question.
The charge, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 and punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, provides for a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
Judge Priscilla allowed bail of RM6,000 in one surety, and set an additional condition that the accused refrain from making any comment or posting about the case until it is settled.
