Alleged statement on Perak political crisis 'not seditious' - Karpal Singh

Lawyer Karpal Singh told the High Court here that the words he allegedly uttered during a press conference on Feb 6, at his office three years ago, relating to the Perak political crisis, were not seditious as alleged in the charge.

He said all the words were not within the provision stated in Section 3 of the Sedition Act 1948.

"There were much more seditious statements uttered during parliament sittings and in writings, but they (those involved) have never been charged with a similar charge I'm facing now," contended Karpal, who is also DAP chairman.

Referring to several pages of the book entitled 'Ampun Tuanku' written by former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim on the same subject matter (Perak political crisis), Karpal argued that they were much more seditious towards the Sultan.

Questioned by his counsel Gobind Singh Deo whether he still stood by his statement at the press conference, Karpal said he had never backed off from whatever he had commented.

"Let me repeat, I never intended to question the prerogative of the Sultan of Perak but merely stating the fact that the Sultan should have allowed the assembly itself to deal with the matter first," Karpal said.

On June 11, 2010, Karpal was discharged and acquitted by the High Court at the end of the prosecution case on a charge of uttering seditious statements with regard to the Sultan of Perak, at his law firm in Jalan Pudu Lama, Kuala Lumpur on Feb 6, 2009.

Upon appeal by the prosecution, he was ordered to enter his defence.

Karpal, 73, had allegedly said the removal of Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Menteri Besar and Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir's appointment to the post by the Sultan of Perak could be questioned in a court of law.

The trial before Justice Datuk Azman Abdullah continues on March 15.