This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 9, 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali should review all sedition charges against those who will stand trial following Tuesday’s Federal Court ruling that the law enacted under British rule was constitutional, lawyers said.

They said it was questionable whether those charged with the offence, including law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom, had committed the alleged crime.

The lawyers also highlighted the AG’s decision to withdraw the sedition charge against Malay Armed Forces Veterans Association president Mohd Ali Baharom last month.

The AG has the power to withdraw charges even in the midst of a trial or appeal.

Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said the law should remain, but there must not be selective prosecution.

“I do not see Azmi’s utterance and the publication of his views as seditious because it was an academic opinion,” he said.

He said there would be little progress in intellectual discourse if academics were stifled from expressing their views publicly.

On Tuesday, a five-man bench led by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria said the sedition law was not against the freedom of speech under Article 10 (1)(a) of the Federal Constitution.

The nation’s top judge said there were also defences available under the law, and this included showing any ruler that he has been misled or mistaken in any of his measures or to point out errors in any government or constitution.

Mohamed Haniff said Azmi fell into one of those exceptions when he voiced his opinion on the political saga on the appointment of a new Selangor menteri besar following the resignation of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim last year.

On Sept 2, 2014, Azmi was charged under Section 4(1)(b) and Section 4(1)(c) of the act for his comments in an article, “Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told” that was published in a news portal.

The Federal Court ruling also has an impact on some 30 politicians, government critics and activists who have been charged with sedition since last year.

Mohamed Haniff also questioned former AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail’s decision not to prosecute Datuk Ibrahim Ali, a well-known and ardent government supporter, who escaped prosecution for his speech that called for Malay Bibles to be burnt. 

Lawyer M Viswanathan said it would a good public relations exercise for Mohamed Apandi to review all cases pending in court, including Azmi’s.

“What amounts to sedition is very subjective. The public perception is that those who are anti-establishment have to face the full brunt of the law while those supportive of the government escape punishment.”

He cited Mohd Ali’s case, where he is attempting to hold a gathering in Taman Melaka Raya tomorrow in defence of immigration officers assaulted by thugs, and who said the area “will not be safe during the rally”.

Visvanathan said that statement obviously had a seditious tendency and it appeared that Mohd Ali had the habit of threatening others.

Lawyer Edmund Bon said the AG should review and drop sedition charges against those who claimed trial to the charges.

“Just like any other criminal case, the accused have to go through a long and tedious process. Spare them the agony by reviewing their cases.” — The Malaysian Insider