Shah Alam MP relieved he has been acquitted

KUALA LUMPUR: Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad (pic), who was acquitted of sedition, has voiced relief over the verdict.

“The judge had summed it up very nicely,” he told reporters yesterday after Sessions Court judge Rohatul Akmar Abdullah acquitted and discharged him at the end of the prosecution’s case after it failed to prove a prima facie case against him.

Khalid, 61, was charged with uttering seditious statements during a press conference at the Parliament building at 11.30am on June 17, 2014. Based on the charge sheet, the statements included requesting the Selangor government to research on amending an enactment that allowed the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) to directly control the state’s religious authorities.

He was alleged to have said that Mais was seen to be closely associated with the Sultan of Selangor, thus its actions would damage the image of the royalty.

Another statement allegedly uttered was a call to return to a constitutional monarchy and not to give executive powers to the royalty.

Under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act, Khalid faced up to three years prison and a fine, if convicted.

Yesterday, Rohatul Akmar said: “The court is of the view that the words used were only a suggestion to review Mais’ jurisdiction.

“The suggestion and views were reasonable and therefore it is not safe to instruct the accused to enter his defence.”

Khalid’s lawyer Mohamed Hanipa Maidin told reporters that he hoped Khalid would be the last person to be charged under the Sedition Act.

“I hope the prosecution will not file an appeal,” he said.