19-7-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin has accused the Malaysian government of “selective” prosecution of Kedah chief minister Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, claiming that the charges against him were motivated by “political vengeance.” Sanusi was charged with two counts of sedition for allegedly insulting Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah during a political rally in Selangor on Jul 11. Additionally, he was charged with uttering seditious words regarding the establishment of the unity government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Sanusi pleaded not guilty to both charges which carry a maximum sentence of three years in jail or a fine of RM5,000 ($1,100). His arrest, which took place in the early hours of the morning, has been condemned by Hamzah who questioned why the Kedah chief minister was taken into custody despite having expressed his full cooperation with the police.
“The action of the Anwar Ibrahim-led government of using the police to raid and arrest Muhammad Sanusi at 3am was an act of excess and persecution deliberately made only out of political vengeance,” Hamzah said in a statement.
Hamzah further noted that non-Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders who have issued inflammatory statements have not been subjected to legal action. He condemned the “abuse of power” by Malaysia’s highest leader and warned against using power to intimidate leaders from Perikatan Nasional.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has a strong case to charge Sanusi in court and that the charges had nothing to do with the upcoming state elections. The six states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan will be holding their state polls concurrently on Aug 12, and Sanusi is the election director for both PAS and PN.
Sanusi’s arrest came after police officers from the Kedah state contingent were unable to locate him after being informed of the AGC’s plan to charge him with sedition. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Razarudin Husain said that Sanusi was arrested to ensure that he faced his charges in court amid worries that he may abscond from appearing in court.
The bail offered to Sanusi, which was equivalent to the maximum penalty of the Sedition Act, under which he was charged, has also been criticized. Hamzah noted that the bail offered was RM5,000, which is the maximum penalty of the Sedition Act 1948.
