Author Abdul Khalid @ Khalid Jafri Bakar Shah was today sentenced to a year's jail by the Ampang Sessions Court for publishing false information in a book he authored.

The book, 50 dalil mengapa Anwar tidak boleh jadi PM (50 reasons why Anwar cannot become PM), played a pivotal role in the sacking of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim from government and party posts in 1998.

Judge Mohamad Saman Mohamed Ramli had on June 25 convicted Khalid of being guilty and today was set just for sentencing.

The court, which ordered the sentence to start from today, however, allowed a stay of execution pending an appeal. Khalid's bail of RM5,000 was also extended.
The former journalist was found to have committed the offence - of writing and publishing false news mala fide (with bad intention) - at his publishing company Media Pulau Lagenda office in Ampang in May 1998.

He was charged under section 8A (1) of the Printing, Presses and Publications Act 1984 which carries a maximum jail sentence of three years or a fine of RM20,000 or both.

Child legitimate

Khalid, who appeared calm when the sentence was passed, declined to comment on the prison term saying that he did not want to be cited for contempt.

"Tapi kita kembali kepada hukum tuhan. Yang haram tetap haram Tak boleh yang haram kita dihalalkan." (We must return to God's law. What is unlawful remains so. We cannot make it lawful)," said the author who was conferred the 'Datuk' title by the Malacca Government last year.

In convicting Khalid, Mohamad Saman said the author had failed to take enough steps to verify the truth to the allegation that Shamsidar Taharin - wife of Anwar's private secretary Mohd Azmin Ali - had an illegitimate child with Anwar.

"It has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that the child is the legitimate offspring of the couple (Mohd Azmin and Shamsidar)," said Mohamed Saman

In meting out the sentence, Mohamad Saman said he had to reject counsel Shashi Menon's request for the accused to be bound over or fined as such a sentence would not commensurate with the seriousness of the offence.

"As what the prosecution argued, though the offence did not inflict physical injuries onto anyone, it had damaged the dignity of three persons, namely Azmin, his wife and especially so their child ... because this is fitnah (slander)."

Health condition

He said that Khalid's crime may have an adverse effect on the future of the child whose identity was protected by the court.

"In the next 20 years or so when she is older, she may discover news reports of this trial which received wide media coverage and, of course, the book itself. Questions may be playing in her mind. She may be asking herself, who am I?"

"(The child) may also find out that it was her aunt, Ummi Hafilda, who had first made the allegations. I am certain that these questions would trouble (the child). I regret that such scenario may be subjected upon an innocent child."

He said that he had taken account of all mitigating factors including Khalid's age, his deteriorating health condition and his financial status.

'I am aware that the book was not sold in large quantities following the court injunction by Anwar Ibrahim to stop the distribution of the book then. I know that he did not get much profit from the book."