Malaysia accuses former PM Muhyiddin of sedition over comments on royalties

Malaysia has charged opposition leader and former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin with sedition for allegedly insulting the country’s former king, a lawyer said on Tuesday.

Muhyiddin, who will lead Malaysia for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, was charged in a court in the northeastern state of Kelantan with sedition over remarks he made in a political speech this month. He pleaded not guilty, the lawyer said.

Malaysia practices a unique form of monarchy, where the country’s nine sultans reign every five years. Monarchy plays a largely ceremonial role and is deeply respected.

Negative laws regarding royalty can be prosecuted under the colonial-era Sedition Act.

In a political speech on August 15, Muhyiddin allegedly questioned former King Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah’s credibility after Malaysia’s 2022 general election, which led to a suspended parliament, according to local media reports.

In his speech, Muhyiddin said, according to the report, he had received enough support from parliamentarians to form a government after the election, but asked why Al-Sultan Abdullah did not invite him to be sworn in as prime minister, the report said. said.

Al-Sultan Abdullah appointed Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister in November 2022. Al-Sultan Abdullah’s five-year reign as king ended in January.

Al-Sultan Abdullah did not comment publicly on the comments reported by Muhyiddin and his office could not immediately be reached for comment.

Muhyiddin, who leads Malaysia’s conservative, Malay-centric opposition bloc, faces up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of 5,000 ringgit ($1,148) if convicted, lawyers said.

He is also accused of corruption and money laundering in a separate case filed against him last year – charges that are believed to be politically motivated.

Anwar’s government has denied targeting political rivals, saying the allegations are part of efforts to crack down on high-level corruption.