KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s trial on a charge of making seditious remarks during the Nenggiri state by-election campaign in Kelantan will begin on Nov 3 at the High Court here.
Judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin fixed six days for the trial - Nov 3, 4, 5, 11, 12 and 13 - after both the prosecution and defence agreed upon the dates.
Earlier, lawyer Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing the former prime minister, informed the court that the defence requested trial dates after September to allow the Jana Wibawa project case involving Muhyiddin at a different court to be heard first.
"We are ready and have submitted 115 statutory declarations to the investigating authorities. We request the prosecution to provide the list of witnesses and written statements for the trial," he said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Saiful Hazmi Mohd Saad, assisted by Nadia Mohd Izhar, did not object to the request.
On Feb 4 last year, Muhyiddin, 78, pleaded not guilty at the High Court here to a charge of making seditious remarks during the Nenggiri state by-election campaign at Dewan Semai Bakti Felda Perasu between 10.30pm and 11.50pm on Aug 14, 2024.
The alleged seditious statement was linked to his claim that he was not invited by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after the 15th General Election to be sworn in as prime minister, despite allegedly having the support of 115 out of 222 members of parliament at the time.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which is punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, carrying a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
The case was initially mentioned at the Sessions Court in Gua Musang, Kelantan on Aug 27, 2024, before being transferred to the High Court here.
Muhyiddin had applied for the case to be transferred to the High Court here, citing, among others, complex legal issues and exceptional difficulties expected to arise, particularly involving constitutional questions on several provisions under the Sedition Act 1948. - Bernama
