Isma chief denies sedition charge

KAJANG: Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman (pic) pleaded not guilty to a charge of sedition over his remarks about how the Chinese came to Malaysia.

The charge was read to him before Sessions judge Nor Hazani Hamzah.

He was charged with making seditious statements in four sentences at No. 25-1-1, Jalan Medan Pusat Bandar 1A, Bandar Baru Bangi, Section 9, at 10am on May 6.

Abdullah Zaik also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of publishing an article titled “The coming of the Chinese with the British colonialists a form of intrusion” on the Isma website.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at the same place and date at between 3pm and 3.30pm.

If convicted on the first charge, he could face a jail term of up to three years or a fine not exceeding RM5,000, or both. He could be jailed up to five years on the other charge.

DPP Manoj Kurup offered RM5,000 bail in one surety.

However, counsel Haezreene Begum Abdul Hamid asked the amount be reduced as her client had to support nine school-going children.

Judge Nor Hazani retained the bail amount as offered by the DPP in one surety and ordered that Abdullah Zaik’s passport be surrendered to the court.

The accused paid the bail and the court fixed July 18 for mention.

Outside the court, Abdullah Zaik said Isma would keep fighting for the rights of the Muslims and Malays.

Abdullah Zaik, who was accompanied by his wife Norsaleha Mohd Salleh, who is Isma women’s chief, as well as his supporters, said the action against him was an attempt to stop him from “telling the truth”.

“The media has accused Isma of being affiliated to the Government or Umno.

“But the sedition charge against me proves that we are not protected by anyone,” he said.