SHAH ALAM: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's sedition trial at the High Court has been postponed pending the decision of his second representation to the Attorney-General's Chamber (A-GC).
At the onset of the proceedings today, Sanusi's lawyer, Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud told judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin that his client, Kedah's Jeneri assemblyman, had instructed him to send in a representation to the A-GC.
This is Sanusi's second representation after his first was rejected by the A-GC in May; and both sought the dismissal of two sedition charges of uttering seditious remarks against the Sultan of Selangor and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last year.
"There is a new development in this case. My client has instructed me to send a representation to the A-GC and we have sent it last week.
"I believe the Attorney-General needs time to consider the representation and with the new development in this case, therefore, I have applied for the postponement of two months for parties to obtain full information and to consider the representation," he said.
He proposed a case management date in two months.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Datuk Masri Mohd Daud confirmed that the prosecution had received the representation from the accused.
"We also confirm that we need some time to study the representation submitted by the accused.
"Based on that, the prosecution supports the application for a postponement before a decision is made.
"I suggest that the trial dates to be fixed at the end of September and those set previously to be vacated," he said.
The court set Sept 27 for case management and vacated the previous dates fixed this month and August.
After proceedings, Awang Armadajaya said the representation was, among others, to drop the charges mounted against his client.
Masri said the A-GC received the representation on July 19 .
Other lawyers who appeared for Sanusi were Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Mohd Tajuddin Abd Razak, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, Mohd Radzlan Jalaludin, Ahmad Lutfi Awang and Mohd Faizi Che Abu.
Apart from Masri, the other DPPs were Abd Malik Ayob, Nor Azizah Aling and Nadia Mohd Izhar.
Lawyer Muhammad Hafizuddin Salehuddin held a watching brief on behalf of Sultan of Selangor and Selangor Council of the Royal Court.
On July 18 last year, Sanusi pleaded not guilty at the Selayang Sessions Court to two counts of uttering seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards the Rulers.
He was alleged to have uttered seditious and insulting remarks in relation to Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah near Taman Selayang Mutiara at about 11pm on July 11.
Sanusi was also charged with making the same offence when he allegedly uttered seditious remarks questioning Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement on the King's decree on the establishment of the unity government.