Lawful to sue Sultan but seditious to say it, court told
By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider
PUTRAJAYA, July 15 — People have the legal right to take Sultans to court but to speak openly of it is seditious, the Court of Appeal heard today.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Noorin Badarudin said it was seditious for DAP chairman Karpal Singh to have publicly stated his intention to sue the Perak Sultan in 2009 as this would inflame the sentiments of laymen who did not have a good grasp of the law.
“Yes, it’s true that the Sultan can be brought to court. We know that, but these are ordinary people,” she said.
“It’s not the same impression and understanding as compared to the legal people.”
Karpal (picture) had been indicted under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 for allegedly uttering seditious words against the Perak Sultan at his legal firm on Jalan Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur on February 6 two years ago during the Perak constitutional crisis.
He was alleged to have said that the removal of Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak mentri besar and appointment of Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir by the Sultan could be questioned in a court of law. Karpal was later acquitted.
