Karpal charged for sedition

KUALA LUMPUR, - DAP chairman Karpal Singh was charged this morning with sedition for saying Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin's removal as Perak mentri besar by Sultan Azlan Shah could be "questioned in a court of law."
The veteran lawyer-politician was charged at the Sessions Court here before Judge Mohamad Sekeri Mamat under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1946.

Earlier before he was charged, Karpal told reporters that the charge is "obviously politically motivated."

He also criticised the Sedition Act, calling it archaic, pointing out it was used to intimidate MPs from speaking out.

"If not, then Dr Mahathir would be first on the list."

Karpal also said that his comments about the Perak constitutional crisis were "basic law lessons taught in law schools."

"Not that I want to sue the Sultan. I have no authority. But the Sultan can be sued in his personal capacity."

The DAP man said he was not worried about the charge, because he had been charged with the same offence previously and was acquitted.

Karpal is representing himself. (TMI)


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Guan Eng blames Chedet for Karpal uproar - Malaysiakini

GEORGE TOWN: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has blamed former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the uproar over Karpal Singh’s plan to sue the Sultan of Perak.

He said Karpal Singh, who is DAP chairman, was merely stating a matter of law that the Sultan could be taken to court.

Lim said it was Dr Mahathir who was behind the 1993 constitutional amendment that allowed Rulers to be stripped of their immunity from prosecution.

“If we look at history, the person who made this law is from Umno. If you want to place blame, then blame the Umno person who is responsible for the deed,” he told reporters before receiving a courtesy call from the Penang Bar Committee at his office in Komtar yesterday.

In Petaling Jaya, Karpal Singh said there was no legal basis to banish him from Perak.

“I firmly stand by my opinion that the Sultan of Perak can be sued in court in his official capacity for having dismissed the Pakatan state government,” he said in a statement.

He said under the Banishment Act, 1959 (Act 79), he could not be banished from any states in the Federation of Malaysia because it is an Act relating to the banishment and expulsion from Malaysia of persons other than citizens. (TheStar)

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