Khalid freed of sedition charge over bible statement

KUALA LUMPUR: Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad was today acquitted and discharged of sedition over his alleged questioning of the powers of Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) and the Selangor Sultan.
Judge Rohatul Akmar Abdullah said the prosecution led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Othman Abdullah failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
"The court is of opinion the words used were just a suggestion to study Mais' powers so that it does not tarnish the image of the Selangor ruler.
After scrutinising the speech in its totality and distinguishing political speech given his role as a member of a parliament, the court finds that it was a suggestion," she said in her ruling.
She added that his suggestion to curb the powers of Mais is allowed and appropriate and acquitted and discharged Khalid.

Khalid was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 and faced up to three years prison and a fine, if convicted.
When met outside the courtroom, the three-term MP, who was represented by lawyer Hanipa Maidin, said he was relieved and was pleased with the judge's verdict.

"I am very relieved and the judge summarised it very well. There was no intention to make seditious statements.
"The situation was very awkward as the AG then and the prime minister had asked Mais to return the books that were confiscated but it was not done," he told reporters.
He added that the situation was very damaging to the image of the Selangor ruler and this was why he made the statement for enactment for Mais to be studied.
Hanipa said that with Pakatan Harapan forming the government, he hopes that the Sedition Act will be repealed and Khalid would be the last to be charged under it.
"I hope he is the last victim to this Act," he said.
Khalid was reported to say that following Mais' refusal to return the bibles seized from the Bible Society of Malaysia (BSM), Selangor should consider amending the enactment allowing Mais to directly control the state's religious authorities.
Khalid said this would ensure that Mais follows the policies of the Pakatan Rakyat state government and prevent the council from acting independently.
Khalid was charged to uttering seditious statements during a press conference in the Parliament Building, on Jalan Parliament, here, at 11.30am on June 17, 2014.
According to the charge sheet, those statements include requesting the Selangor government to research on amending an enactment that allowed Mais to directly control the state's religious authorities.
He is also alleged to have said that Mais was seen to be closely associated to the Sultan of Selangor, thus, its actions damaged the image of the royalty.
Another statement allegedly uttered was a call to return to a constitutional monarchy and not to give executive powers to the royalty as that could tarnish the royal institution.