Maybe bad idea for Pakatan led Selangor State Government to pay for sedition defense

"Sri Muda assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here this morning to posting an allegedly seditious article in his blog (srimuda.blogspot.com) on the appointment of Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the new Selangor State Secretary on Dec 30 last year. He was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 which carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or imprisonment up to three years, or both, on conviction."

The news from the Malay Mail here:

Shuhaimi pleads not guilty
Sri Muda PKR assemblyman claims trial to sedition charge
NADIRAH H. RODZI
Monday, February 7th, 2011 13:08:00


SHAH ALAM: Sri Muda assemblyman Shuhaimi Shafiei pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here this morning to posting an allegedly seditious article in his blog (srimuda.blogspot.com) on the appointment of Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the new Selangor State Secretary on Dec 30 last year.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 which carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or imprisonment up to three years, or both, on conviction.


If convicted, Shuhaimi also risks losing his seat.


Justice Latifah Mohd Tahar fixed March 28 for the mention date and bail was set at RM8,000. Deputy Public Prosecutor Hanafiah Zakaria had initially proposed for bail to be set at RM20,000, due the severity of the offence. Shuhaimi posted bail.


Among those who attended the proceedings were Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Pandamaran assemblyman Ronnie Liu and hundreds of Pakatan Rakyat supporters.


Suhaimi was represented by counsel Edmund Bon and Amer Hamzah Arshad.


Speaking to reporters after the proceedings, Amer said: "The charge against Shuhaimi is merely based on politics. Before this, we have seen many Barisan Nasional politicians issuing seditious remarks but they were never charged."


Shuhaimi allegedly committed the offence on Dec 30 last year at Pusat Khidmat Rakyat, 6/2, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla, R 31/R, Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, by posting a blog post titled "Pandangan saya berasaskan undang-undang tubuh kerajaan negeri Selangor 1959".


His blog allegedly questioned the consent given by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to the appointment of Mohd Khusrin.

Read the rest here.


Well looking at the charge under the Sedition act, the accused is in deep trouble and despite the confident exterior, I think he will be a worried man.  His lawyers or anybody else can say it is politically motivated but they cannot use it as a legal argument. Just like saying there are robbers out there who never got caught, how come my client got caught and got charged, because he is a PKR Adun this must be political. Ya right try that in court lah.


I happen to think that it is a bad idea for the Pakatan DAP led Selangor State Government to say that they will pay for Shuhaimi's defense, it gives the impression that the Pakatan State Government is condoning his alleged seditious action against the DYMM Sultan of Selangor don't you think?  Could backfire with Selangor Malay voters big time.


Just use PKR or DAP fund or establish a fund for his defense lah, after all he is being charged in his personal capacity, the party is not being charged.