Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today said that the charges made against opposition political leaders were not a form of “political pressure”.

He instead pointed out that anyone who had committed an offence would have to face legal action, regardless of who they are.

Khairy (left) added that charges made under the Sedition Act against opposition leaders were because there were no new laws that can be utilised.

“It’s not a form of political pressure. But because they (political leaders) have committed an offence.

“As such, they have to face legal action, that’s all. There is no effort to target anyone in particular,” he said during a press conference after attending an aerobics session this morning.

“Because there is no new law, that is why we have to use the existing laws. While drafting new laws, we have to take action. You cannot expect us to not take action at all.”

Padang Serai MP N Surendran was accused of sedition on Aug 19 following his statement on the sodomy appeal case faced by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Seri Delima state assemblyperson RSN Rayer was also charged at the Sessions court in Penang for uttering the word ‘celaka’ to three Umno members

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli on the other hand, was accused of producing ‘defamatory and provocative’ statements against Umno members. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges made against him.

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad was charged under the Sedition Act following his statements made against the sultan of Selangor in relation to the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais).

Meanwhile, former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin was charged with ‘defaming’ Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak two years ago.


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