PKR’s Tian Chua ordered to enter defence over seditious speech

(Malay Mail Online) – Opposition lawmaker Chua Tian Chang was ordered to enter his defence today after the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court found that the words he uttered during a speech in 2013 had seditious tendency.

According to his lawyer New Sin Yew, the Batu MP, commonly known as Tian Chua, will enter his defence in April and will also appear as a witness.

“The judge found that what YB Tian said in May 2013 at Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall had seditious tendency and ordered for defence to be entered,” he said, referring to Sessions judge Abdul Rashid Daud

“YB Tian, he had elected to give a sworn statement on the witness stand and the defense case will be on 25th and 26th April,” New said in a phone interview with Malay Mail Online.

The lawyer added, however, that the judge’s findings could set a “dangerous precedent” as the words uttered by Tian Chua are also commonly used by many Malaysians.

“It’s unfortunate that the learned judge did not agree with our position that Tian’s words were generic and innocuous.

“Further, these are words used everyday. People on the streets using such words would be at risk if such words were construed to have seditious tendency” he said.

New explained that the PKR lawmaker had merely said “bangkit lawan rasuah, bangkit lawan rasis” (rise up and fight bribery, rise up and fight racists) as well as “turun jalanraya” (take to the streets).

When met at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Tian Chua stressed the importance of repealing the Sedition Act, claiming the law was affecting the country’s position as a democratic nation.

“If whatever we say will be construed as seditious eventually, we will lose what we are as a democratic country,” he said.

Tian Chua was charged on May 29, 2013 under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act and if convicted, he faces a maximum fine of RM5,000, or three years in jail, or both.