Sorry not a defence under the law, says Azalina on Sanusi's apology

PETALING JAYA: An apology does not amount to a legal defence in law, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said on Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s apology after his remarks on the Selangor Sultan.

“Anyone who raises divisive issues, disrupts public peace and does not respect the royal institution must remember that this is a wrongdoing according to the law and cannot be resolved with an apology as an apology is not taken as a legal defence in criminal legislation,” the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said in a tweet Saturday (July 15).

ALSO READ: Sanusi apologises to Selangor Ruler

The government, she said, wanted to stress that although freedom of expression was a constitutional right of Malaysian citizens and is enshrined under Article 10(1)(a), the same right is also subject to Article 10(2) which ensures public peace and harmony is preserved.

“As politicians or someone bestowed with power, we must realise that our words have the power to influence the public, especially during election season,” she said while referring to Sanusi’s remarks on Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

ALSO READ: Apologise for insulting Sultan, Selangor Royal Council tells Sanusi

“Let the police be given the freedom to investigate those who raise 3R issue that breach the law without the interference of any parties,” he said.

In a Facebook post earlier Saturday, the caretaker Kedah mentri besar said he had sent a letter to Istana Selangor (the Selangor Palace) as he needed to explain his side of the story to Sultan Sharafuddin.

ALSO READ: Kedah MB hits back at Amirudin and Zahid

He also said that he had cooperated with the police on the reports lodged by certain quarters against him over the matter.

Police reports were lodged by PKR members and the Royal Council of Selangor against Muhammad Sanusi over the allegations that he had insulted the Selangor Ruler during a Perikatan Nasional ceramah recently.

Saya ingin membawa perhatian kepada tindakan Menteri Besar Kedah, Datuk Seri @SanusiMNor, di mana beliau telah dalam ceramah politiknya, mempersoalkan kewibawaan Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah berkaitan pemilihan Menteri Besar #Selangor baru-baru ini. Kerajaan mahu tegaskan... — Azalina Othman Said (@AzalinaOthmanS) July 15, 2023