As Penang state assemblyman RSN Rayer received a postponement in his sedition case, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman wasn’t so lucky: he was charged for sedition at the Kajang Sessions Court today, for his remarks on ethnic Chinese Malaysians last month.
Abdullah was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000, or a maximum prison sentence of three years, or both, upon conviction. He was also charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the same act for publishing his remarks on the ISMA official website.
He claimed trial to both charges.
On May 6, Abdullah said that ethnic Chinese migrants into Tanah Melayu, or what would eventually be known as Peninsular Malaysia, was an act of intrusion, initiated by British colonialists to undermine the sovereignty of Malays and Islam in the region. He went on to question the right to citizenship and opportunity to attain wealth afforded to ethnic Chinese Malaysians, based on his perception of history.
Abdullah later stated that he was merely reminding ethnic Chinese Malaysians of their “origins”.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Manoj Kurup proposed bail of RM5000, however Abdullah’s lawyer Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid appealed for a lower amount, saying he has to support nine children aged between 9 and 24 years old, according to The Malaysian Insider.
“His only role is as president of Isma, which is an NGO.
“He is also involved in charity works in the Muslim community,” she said, adding that the court should also take into consideration the prime minister’s announcement two years ago to repeat the Sedition Act.
Haezreena also said in the sedition charge against Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, the bail amount was set at RM4000.
Session judge Nor Hazani Hamzah, however, set bail at RM5000 and fixed mention for July 18, and ordered his passport to be surrendered.
See Also:
ISMA calls Chinese migration to Tanah Melayu ‘a mistake’
IGP: ISMA being investigated for sedition
ISMA president: “I only reminded the Chinese of their origins”
