KUALA LUMPUR: Break the law and deal with the consequences, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says of alleged offences under the Sedition Act 1948.
“If you commit an offence and are found out, then you need to deal with it," he said.
“The police reports (that led to sedition charges being filed against Perikatan Nasional leaders) were made by the Pahang palace and in another case by the Selangor palace.
"They (the Opposition) shouldn’t twist this as they should know (how the process works).
"They are just playing politics,” he told a press conference at the launch and groundbreaking ceremony of the Residensi Suria Madani housing project here on Thursday (Aug 29).
He was asked to comment on the statement by Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin condemning Anwar and Pakatan Harapan leaders for previously opposing the Act and promising in their election manifesto to abolish what they termed a "draconian law".
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Hamzah issued a statement on Wednesday (Aug 28) claiming Pakatan had repeatedly used the Sedition Act after taking over the administration.
His comment came after Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was charged in the Gua Musang Sessions Court on Tuesday (Aug 27) with making seditious remarks during the Nenggiri by-election campaign in Kelantan.
Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty.
Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the charge was based on a police report lodged by a representative of the Pahang palace.
On Aug 19, Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah expressed anger and displeasure at Muhyiddin who he said had deliberately and cynically commented on the responsibilities and role of the Sultan of Pahang when he was Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
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As such, Tengku Hassanal wanted the police to take stern action without compromise after Muhyiddin touched on race, religion and royalty (3R) issues.
Last year, five members of the Dewan Diraja Selangor lodged a police report against Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for allegedly questioning the authority of the Selangor royal institution in the appointment of the state’s Mentri Besar.
