Sanusi to be charged tomorrow

SHAH ALAM - Caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is expected to be charged at the Selayang Court tomorrow.

Muhammad Sanusi, who is also the Perikatan Nasional (PN) election director, is expected to be charged following his statement, which allegedly belittled the Selangor Sultan’s appointment of Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari as Selangor Menteri Besar.

Berita Harian reported that a search on the Sessions Court website confirmed the charges would be brought before Judge Nor Rajiah Mat Zin.

The prosecution against Sanusi is set to be heard at 9am.

Police had earlier confirmed opening an investigation into Sanusi regarding a statement under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

In his previous speech, Sanusi compared his appointment as Menteri Besar of Kedah with that of Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who was appointed as Menteri Besar by the Sultan of Selangor, and this went viral on social media.

At least 57 police reports were made against him by several parties due to the speech, which resulted in Sanusi being investigated in relation to the speech that touched on the 3R issue, namely race, religion, and king.

Following the incident, Sanusi sent a letter asking for forgiveness to Sultan Sharafuddin Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

At 2 am the same day, Sanusi gave a statement to the police in Bukit Aman.

In a follow-up statement, he claimed that his speech at the ceremony was deliberately twisted by political enemies to cause misunderstanding.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the investigation into the Kedah Menteri Besar was not halted although he had submitted an apology to the Sultan of Selangor.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Legal and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, also emphasised that an apology is not a legal defence.

Azalina said that although Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution gives freedom of speech to every Malaysian citizen, it is subject to Article 10(2) of the Constitution to ensure peace and order.

"Anyone who raises the issue of division, disturbing public order, and disrespecting the institution of the King should remember that this is an offence under the law," she remarked.