">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Malaysian lawmaker charged with sedition
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Malaysian lawmaker charged with sedition
By JULIA ZAPPEI,Associated Press Writer AP - 2 hours 45 minutes ago
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A Malaysian opposition leader was charged with sedition Tuesday for allegedly insulting a royal figure, a day after his son was suspended from Parliament for calling the next prime minister a murderer.
ADVERTISEMENT
The opposition expressed fears the government was on a political witch hunt.
Karpal Singh pleaded innocent to the charge of insulting Sultan Azlan Shah of the northern Perak state on Feb. 6 during a news conference.
"Obviously it is politically motivated. There can be no doubt about that," Singh, chairman of the opposition Democratic Action Party, told reporters before entering court. Singh, a Parliament member and prominent lawyer, was freed on bail. No date has been set for the trial.
The charge stems from a tussle for power in Perak, which used to be governed by a three-party alliance that includes the Democratic Action Party, following the March 2008 elections. Earlier this year, however, three of its Perak state legislators defected, tipping the balance in favor of the ruling National Front coalition.
The sultan of Perak then fired the alliance's administration and asked the National Front to lead the state. The sultans are hereditary and titular rulers of nine of Malaysia's 13 states. They play a largely ceremonial role in politics.
Prosecutors said Singh insulted the sultan and committed sedition by questioning the sultan's mandate to appoint a new administration without for calling a vote of confidence in the state parliament. Singh had said the sultan can be sued for his actions.
Anwar Ibrahim, who leads the opposition three-party alliance, said the charge against Singh marked the beginning of a government crackdown on the resurgent opposition, which made substantive gains in the March 8 elections.
"I believe that they (government) will go on a witch hunt against the opposition leaders," Anwar told reporters at the court. "This is a malicious prosecution."
He said Singh was merely giving his legal opinion about the sultan's powers.
According to Malaysian law, any act that provokes hatred, contempt or disaffection against a state ruler is considered sedition, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison.
On Monday, Singh's son, Gobind Singh Deo, was suspended from Parliament for one year because he called Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak a murderer in connection with the 2006 slaying of a Mongolian woman. Najib is scheduled to take over as prime minister in early April.
Singh is not the only one in trouble over the Perak crisis.
Eight people have been charged since Friday under a law prohibiting the misuse of the Internet. They were accused of posting offensive comments on the Perak sultan's Web site. One of them has pleaded guilty and was fined 10,000 ringgit ($2,700). The others will face trials from next month.
"Darkness descends every day with Najib Razak getting closer to (becoming) the next Prime Minister," the Democratic Action Party's parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang, said on his Web site Monday.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Malaysian Politics
Malaysian lawmaker charged with seditionAP - 2 hours 49 minutes ago
Malaysian MP barred for linking next PM to murderAFP - Tuesday, March 17
Graft charge hits Malaysia ruling party pollsAP - Friday, March 13
Malaysia clears top figures in Anwar beatingAFP - Thursday, March 12
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Red Cross hostage tents found after Philippine clashAFP - 1 hour 33 minutes ago
Kangaroos in the firing line in AustraliaAP - 1 hour 35 minutes ago
World Heritage Sites to be proposed in CambodiaAP - 1 hour 35 minutes ago
Australian rangers hunt 'killer croc'AFP - 1 hour 45 minutes ago
No Japan-China summit this month: officialsAFP - 2 hours 1 minute ago
Related Full Coverage
Malaysia Elections
Malaysia Elections
All Full Coverage
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Twin boys for Charlie Sheen and wife
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan
For sale: nagging wife, very high maintenance
Bailed-out AIG plans bonuses worth millions: report
World Bank warns of "very dangerous" year ahead
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Tuesday, 17 March 2009 U.S. forces shot down Iranian drone over Iraq
| International
|
Differences remain in talks over Israeli soldier
| International
|
Merkel says EU must consolidate before growing
| International
|
Life in North Korea dire and desperate, U.N. forum told
| International
|
U.N. aid workers freed after kidnap in Somalia
| International
|
Kuwait ruler accepts cabinet resignation in new crisis
| International
|
Hearst prints final Seattle PI as newspapers dwindle
| Technology
|
E-prescribing to soar with new spending
| Technology
|
Phone firms seek low bar for broadband grants
| Technology
|
Cisco to sell servers aimed at data centers
| Technology
|
Obama to appear on the Tonight Show
| Entertainment
|
Elvis memorabilia offered in online auction
| Entertainment
|
Bands often scalp tickets: Nine Inch Nails' Reznor
| Entertainment
|
Egypt author wins Arab fiction prize for Beelzebub
| Entertainment
|
Madagascar's president isolated but defiant
| International
|
US military shoots down Iranian drone
No deal reached in Israel-Hamas prisoner talks
Reformist Khatami quits Iran presidential race
Britain's Brown says should have curbed markets
Israel says Hamas hardens stance in soldier release talks
Chrysler insists it will avoid bankruptcy
Khatami pulls out of Iran's presidential race
OPEC chief demands rich nations act on crisis
US military says Iraqi girl killed in US shooting
In power, El Salvador ex-rebels seek U.S. ties
| International
|
US intervenes to boost small business loans
Sudan wants foreign groups to stop distributing aid
Iran's Khatami says out of presidential race
| International
|
Turkey disregards minority rights in schools
Shooting inside Madagascar presidency: AFP
North Korean premier lauds China as regional anchor
| International
|
Iraqis most upbeat since 2003: poll
US industrial output falls to 2002 low
Best view in Rio? Pushing limits of slum tourism
| International
|
Iraqi fan kills soccer player in close game
Riot police quell protest as water forum opens
Modernization poses new challenges for Tibetans
| International
|
More flee as Sri Lanka rebels mount suicide attack
| International
|
INSIDE WASHINGTON: Rivalry stymies wind-power goal
8 Dems oppose quick debate on global warming bill
EU 'fact-finding' mission on Guantanamo inmates
U.S. raises new anti-terrorism approach with EU
Red Cross report renews call for probe of Bush era
Intel says AMD breached patent licensing pact
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,259
www@20: How the techies tamed the cyber zoo
Mexico retaliates with tariffs on 90 US products
Apple Mac U.S. units down 16 pct in February: NPD
Cisco to go head-to-head with HP, IBM
Peace Corps pulls out of Madagascar due to unrest
US says it shot down Iran drone north of Baghdad
Hearst prints final Seattle PI as newspapers dwindle
Thousands of Tamils decry Sri Lankan 'genocide'
Cisco to sell servers aimed at data centers
Baptized by Fire: Men of Killer Blue face future
Russian woman held for eating friend: report
Potty-mouthed video game grabs profanity record
Vatican website to be available in Chinese
Zombies, stories and wordplay win SXSW Web awards
Phone firms seek low bar for broadband grants
NGO expelled from Darfur considered ICC cooperation
| International
|
Malaysian lawmaker charged with sedition
Obama faces shoot-down dilemma with NKorea launch
NKorea premier visits China amid missile tensions
9th Australian soldier dies in Afghanistan
NATO soldier dies after attack in Afghan south
China labor activist free after 7 years jail
Hearst prints final Seattle PI
| Technology
|
Philippine unemployment rises: govt
"Traveler's Wife" to embark this summer
Elvis memorabilia offered in online auction
| Technology
|
Bomb lobbed at police station in China's west
Japanese fashion robot to hit Tokyo catwalks
| Technology
|
NKorean premier arrives in China amid tensions
Intel says AMD breached patent licensing pact
| Technology
|
No Japan-China summit this month: officials
Shanghai probes waterlogged beef food scare
Apple Mac U.S. units down 16 pct in February: NPD
| Technology
|
Disney cuts 30 jobs in HK as park expansion stalls
S.Korea says raised US swap extension during G20
Rudd, Segel bring perfect chemistry to bromance
Taiwan dollar scales 1-week high on econ optimism
White House: Obama to appear on Leno's show
South Korean bonds rise on extra budget plan
Steve-O skips `Dancing' because of back injury
Seoul shares up;stronger won lifts banks, airlines
Tween "Dora" won't be a bad girl, say guardians
S.Korean department stores enjoy brisk sales on won drop
DJ AM seeks $20 million for plane crash damages
Connick set to receive honorary Tulane degree
'Good Negro' examines '60s civil rights movement
"The Greatest" inks distribution deal with Senator
Indonesia wants solution for Myanmar boat people
Review: Rudd, Segel elevate `I Love You, Man'
'Witch Mountain' casts box office spell
Family Guy wins court battle over song
| Entertainment
|
Tween Dora won't be a bad girl, say guardians
| Entertainment
|
Heath Ledger's music videos come to light
| Entertainment
|
Rudd, Segel bring perfect chemistry to bromance
| Entertainment
|
Andy Samberg to host MTV movie awards
| Entertainment
|
Sopranos creator Chase reveals Dreams for HBO
| Entertainment
|
Traveler's Wife to embark this summer
| Entertainment
|
The Greatest inks distribution deal with Senator
| Entertainment
|
Pope begins Africa tour
| International
|
Hamas says hopes Israel will resume talks on soldier
Israel could use ballistic missiles against Iran: report
| International
|
Iran's Khatami says out of presidential race
American U.N. official kidnapped in Pakistan said sick
| International
|
Iraq urges execution of Saddam-era officials
| International
|
EU faces protests despite recovery signs
Hamas says hopes Israel will resume talks on soldier
| International
|
Curb climate change to save polar bear: Norway
Darfur peacekeeper killed in ambush: force spokesman
| International
|
Pope takes off on first trip to Africa
North Korea slows disablement pace further: report
| International
|
Isolated Madagascar president faces end of reign
More flee as Sri Lanka rebels mount suicide attack
| International
|
Miniature carnivore dinosaurs roamed North America
Pakistan to restore democracy in key province: PM
| International
|
UV light can zap TB in hospitals: study
Curb climate change to save polar bear: Norway
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop
| Technology
|
Nokia to cut 1,700 jobs in sinking phone market
| Technology
|
India leaders blog, text to plug in to young voters
| Technology
|
US-TECH Summary
Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008
Cybersquatting cases hit record in 2008
| Technology
|
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop
India leaders blog, text to plug in to young voters
Money management sites promise financial salvation
Japanese fashion robot to hit Tokyo catwalks
US-TECH Summary
Dell unveils world's thinnest laptop
Amy Winehouse denies assault charge
| Entertainment
|
Natasha Richardson critically injured
| Entertainment
|
India: Nehru relative to face hate crime charges
China voices concern as tensions flare in Koreas
12 SKoreans who survived Yemem bombing return home
Malaysia's leadership battle hit with corruption probe
China's milk victims complain of intimidation
Pakistan to restore democracy in key province
Bomb blast in Tibetan area: police
China concerned over situation on Korean peninsula
Yemen bomber posed for pics with SKoreans: report
China phone carrier expands data network to Europe
Imus in Mass. a day after his cancer announcement
Bank of Japan announces fresh crisis measures
Amy Winehouse pleads not guilty to assault
South Korea to propose $12 bln stimulus package
Natasha Richardson reportedly critically hurt in accident
Philippine unemployment rises 7.7 percent
Amy Winehouse denies assault charge
Tyra: `Top Model' auditions to resume after melee
Kyrgyz deficit to be covered by Russian aid
Screenwriter Millard Kaufman dies at 92
S.Korea to sell up to 19 trln won bonds for budget
The dark side of Cuban cigars
HK's jobless rate rises to 5 percent, 3-year high
Hong Kong moves to send plastic bags packing
Elbit's Elisra gets $25 mln South Korea contract
NKorea reopens border to SKoreans at showpiece zone
Indonesian plane badly damaged in runway mishap
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights