KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has condemned the sedition charges against Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as mere political tools aimed at persecuting Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders.
In a Facebook post, Hamzah defended Muhyiddin, saying that the former prime minister's remarks during the Nenggiri by-election campaign were factual. He criticised the coalition government for using the Sedition Act to target PN leaders and suppress the truth.
"The Sedition Act, which they previously wanted to abolish, is now being used for political prosecution against PN leaders.
"God willing, the truth will prevail, and PH-BN's attempt to use the Sedition Act 1948 to silence Perikatan Nasional leaders will not succeed," he said.
He congratulated Muhyddin's defence team saying that they had carried out their duties well after the court rejected the prosecution's gag order and denied the RM20,000 bail request.
"Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional stand firm with Tan Sri Muhyiddin in opposing all forms of injustice.
"We are committed to our ideals for a fairer Malaysia," he said.
Earlier today, Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty to charges of making seditious remarks during a campaign speech at Felda Perasu on Aug 14, ahead of the Nenggiri by-election.
The charges, framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, carry a maximum penalty of a RM5,000 fine, three years' imprisonment, or both if convicted.
Datuk Umar Saifuddin Jaafar who led a six-member prosecution team proposed bail at RM20,000 and asked the court to impose additional conditions of a gag order against Muhyiddin from making any statements on the issue.
Defence counsel Amer Hamzah, on the other hand, said that the proposed RM20,000 bail was unreasonable and excessive, considering that Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor was previously required to post only a RM5,000 bail.
He added that imposing a bail of RM5,000 is sufficient and that there was no need to impose a gag order against his client since the issue was already public knowledge.
The court later set bail at RM5,000 and rejected the prosecution's request for the gag order.
The court fixed Nov 4 for mention.