DAP's Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer has been slapped with two charges under the Sedition Act for uttering the word "celaka" at three Umno leaders.

Rayer was charged in a Sessions Court in Penang today under Section 4 (1)(b) for uttering the word in the state legislative assembly at 9.30am on May 20.

The DAP representative also faced a second charge of uttering the word at a ceramah two days later, during the Bukit Gelugor by-election.

He was alleged to have uttered the controversial words at a ceramah in Island Glades, at about 10pm on May 22, three days before the Bukit Gelugor polling day.

His charge sheet read that Rayer had “on purpose undermined and angered Umno members when he uttered the said word knowing that it may break (memecahkan) public peace (keamanan)”.

The case will be mentioned on Oct 17. Bail was set at RM3,000 for each charge.

Sessions judge Zulhazmi Abdullah presided over the first case while Gobind Singh Deo, Ramkarpal Singh and S Raveentharan acted for Rayer.

DPPs Razali Che Ani and Charanjit Singh prosecuted.

Rayer also faces an alternative charge, under Section 504 of the Penal Code, for provocation.

The second charged was presided over by judge Zaharah Hussain, and the case is also set for mention on Oct 17.

The penalty for both charges is a fine of not more than RM5,000 or a three-year jail sentence, or both, and a jail term not exceeding five years for a subsequent conviction.

His remarks led to pro-Umno supporters barging into the Penang state assembly on May 21. They have been charged with trespassing and their trial will commence on Sept 28.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and several DAP leaders, including PKR's  Deputy Chief Minister I Rashid Hasnon, Abdul Malik Kassim, state executive councillor and Batu Uban assemblyperson Dr T Jayabalan, were present to support Rayer.

Don't practice double standards, AG urged

Ouside the courthouse, Guan Eng said this is the first time in Malaysia that a charge is made on someone whose remark is made about a political party (in this case Umno).

“Why not take action on those in BN who also condemn DAP?” Guan Eng asked, urging the attorney-general not to practice double standards.

“Rayer’s charge is a result of envy and jealousy towards DAP who won the Bukit Gelugor by-election,” Guan Eng added.

“We feel the charges are totally unfair and we will defend Rayer and fight the charges to the end, for the sake of principles and justice,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Gobind slammed the AG for using the Sedition Act on several opposition politicians from Pakatan Rakyat.

“PM Najib Razak has gone against his own words that Malaysia is the best democracy in the world. The Sedition Act is outdated and should be repealed,” Gobind added.

Gobind said he will be writing to the AG to ask his chambers to drop the charges against Rayer.

Meanwhile, Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) co-president Gan Ping Sieu in a statement urged the attorney-general to explain why it was a criminal offence to criticise a political party following Rayer being charged.

“Rayer had merely criticised Umno as a political party. He may have been crude in his remarks but he did not incite racial or religious hatred or promote ill-will against Malay rulers,” he said.

Gan, who contested and lost the MCA presidency, warned that the decision to charge Rayer may impede freedom of speech in the country.

Gan also urged that the Sedition Act be speedily repealed in line with the promise made by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in 2012.