Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged with sedition over remarks he made about the country’s former king, according to his lawyer.
The 77-year-old politician appeared in court in the northern town of Gua Musang, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The sedition charge is related to comments Muhyiddin made during a speech before recent by-elections. In his remarks, he questioned the 2022 decision of then-monarch Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to appoint his political rival, Anwar Ibrahim, as Malaysia’s prime minister. The king’s decision was pivotal in forming a coalition government led by Anwar, following a contentious election.
Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy involves a rotating throne among the rulers of nine states every five years, with deep-rooted Islamic royal traditions. Although the king’s role is largely ceremonial, it is highly respected in the Muslim-majority nation, and the monarch has played a crucial role in maintaining political stability in recent years.
Supporters of Muhyiddin, who now leads the opposition, showed their approval outside the courthouse upon hearing his not-guilty plea, as reported by an AFP journalist on the scene.
The sedition charge, filed under Malaysia’s colonial-era Sedition Act, could result in a fine and up to three years in prison for those convicted of undermining the monarchy. This case highlights the sensitivity of comments related to the royal institution in Malaysia.
The Gua Musang court has scheduled Muhyiddin’s next hearing for November 4, where further proceedings will continue.
