Former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin was charged with making seditious remarks during the August by-election campaign for the Negeri state assembly seat last year. The case was formally transferred to the High Court today, where he pleaded not guilty.
The case was initially heard on August 27 last year at the Kuala Besut Sessions Court. The 77-year-old Muhyiddin appeared before Judge Datuk Mohamad Jamil in the High Court today and pleaded not guilty after listening to the charges.
According to the charge sheet, during the Negeri state seat by-election campaign, Muhyiddin, who is also the chairman of the National Coalition, allegedly made seditious remarks on August 14, 2024, between 10:30 PM and 11:50 PM at the Semai Bakti Hall in the Perasu settlement area.
He claimed that after the 15th General Election, despite receiving support from 115 out of 222 Members of Parliament, he was not summoned by the King to be sworn in as Prime Minister.
Muhyiddin is accused of violating Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 and can be punished under Section 4(1) of the same Act. If found guilty, he could be fined a maximum of RM5,000 or imprisoned for up to three years, or both.
The lead prosecutor in the case is Deputy Public Prosecutor Azlina, while Muhyiddin's defense lawyer is Amir Hanifa.
Earlier, Amir Hanifa informed the court that the defense would bring the legal issues related to their client's sedition case before the Federal Court under Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
The court has set March 6 for the case to be rementioned for the submission of documents, maintaining the earlier bail set by the Kuala Besut Sessions Court at RM5,000, allowing Muhyiddin to be released on bail pending trial.