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(KUALA LUMPUR) A veteran Malaysian opposition politician was yesterday charged with sedition after criticising a royal ruler's handling of a political power struggle in a northern state.
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| In the dock: Karpal Singh (centre) arriving at the KL court yesterday. The sedition charge relates to criticism of Perak ruler's handling of a power struggle in the state |
Karpal Singh, the chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) faces up to three years in prison if found guilty.
Karpal Singh said Malaysia was going 'back into the dark ages' after the sultan of Perak last month ordered the opposition out of power in the state.
'I have done nothing wrong,' Karpal Singh said as he arrived for a hearing on the charge.
'It is part of our job as MPs to speak without fear or favour, in the event of being victimised by the government, we will stand up to it in court.' Karpal Singh's criticism came after Sultan Azlan Shah ordered the state government in Perak to quit after defections from the ruling Pakatan Rakyat alliance - of which the DAP is a part - upset the delicate balance of power.
The sedition charge refers to comments Karpal Singh made in February when he allegedly questioned the sultan's right to appoint a new state leader, and threatened to sue him over the move.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said the prosecution was part of a government vendetta.
'I believe they will go on a witch hunt against the opposition leaders,' he told reporters.
'It's a malicious prosecution. Karpal was giving his legal opinion to be considered by Pakatan leaders. If a lawyer gives his opinion why do you charge him for that?'
The charges come just a day after Karpal Singh's son Gobind Singh Deo, also a DAP lawmaker, was suspended from parliament for one year after a heated parliamentary debate in which he accused Deputy Premier Najib Razak of complicity in a sensational murder case.
Mr Najib has repeatedly denied any involvement in the 2006 killing of 28-year-old Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, the lover of one of his close aides. -- AFP
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