ALOR STAR: Kedah Pas has vowed to stand firm behind Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor following the seditious charges against the caretaker menteri besar today.
State Pas commissioner Datuk Ahmad Yahaya lamented that the charges against the Perikatan Nasional election director was selective prosecution under the "dictator-like" Madani government.
"Kedah Pas is confident that the charges today are a process to clear the good name of the caretaker Kedah Menteri Besar who has been the target of dirty politics by certain parties.
"The political situation in this country seems to be getting worse by the relentless attacks on Sanusi by PH-BN (Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional) leaders.
"All the space and opportunities were fully exploited to ensure that the struggles of Sanusi in particular and Perikatan Nasional in general are erased from the political sphere," he said in a statement.
Ahmad added that other than personal attacks over the bungalow issue, Sanusi's social media account was also blocked, on top of a series of slanders created to destroy Sanusi's character.
"Kedah Pas wishes to stress that what happened today is selective prosecution by the 'dictator-like' Madani government. Ironically, a number of PH and BN leaders themselves have insulted the sultans with even worse slanders.
"Unfortunately, today they are free to speak up. The offences that they committed are not forgotten by Malaysians," he said.
Ahmad alleged that PH and BN would continue to carry out dirty political narratives despite championing for freedom and democracy.
"At one time they wanted to abolish what they described as draconian acts, which included the Sedition Act. Today the same act is being used to bring down their political opponents.
"This is nothing but the hypocritical struggles of PH-BN, which is losing the people's support day by day," he said.
Ahmad added that Kedah Pas prayed for the best for Sanusi and hoped that the legal proceedings would be carried out in a fair manner, adding that Kedah Pas held firm to the principles of justice based on the judiciary being free from any political control or influence.
He also called for all Pas members to remain calm, not to be carried away by emotion and to always respect the rule of law.
"May Sanusi be granted with the justice he deserves throughout the legal proceedings, Insha-Allah," added Ahmad.
Earlier today, Sanusi claimed trial at the Selayang Sessions Court to two counts of uttering seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards the rulers.
He is alleged to have uttered seditious and insulting remarks in relation to Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
He also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of committing 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.
The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act which carries a maximum three years' imprisonment or a RM5,000 fine or both on conviction.
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