Sanusi stays as Perikatan election director, says PAS deputy president

PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional will maintain caretaker Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor as its national election director, despite him being charged under the Sedition Act on Tuesday (July 18), says Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

The PAS deputy president also said the charges against Muhammad Sanusi did not leave any dent in their election campaign, but only strengthened the resolve of Perikatan to take over the three states under Pakatan Harapan.

Tuan Ibrahim also called out the Pakatan-Barisan Nasional government for using the Sedition Act to silence rivals when they had once claimed that it should be repealed as it was prone to abuse by authorities.

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“Perikatan will keep Muhammad Sanusi as election director for the six state elections. Much of the preparations have been completed.

“We will maintain our strategies with the approach of exposing the failures of the Pakatan-Barisan governments in the states that they control now – Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang.

“Perikatan has resolved to provide a manifesto that will gather support from voters and we believe what is being faced by Muhammad Sanusi (in court today) will not dent the campaign machinery,” he said when contacted.

On Tuesday morning, Jeneri assemblyman Muhammad Sanusi claimed trial at the Selayang Sessions Courts to two counts of sedition under the Sedition Act 1948 over a political speech on July 11.

For the first charge, he is accused of uttering a seditious statement that could incite disloyalty to the Rulers.

The offence was allegedly committed at Simpang 4, Taman Selayang Mutiara, at 11pm on July 11.

The impugned statement referred to Muhammad Sanusi's political speech that touched on the Royal Institution.

The charge under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act 1948 carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both, if convicted.