Court dismisses UM professor Azmi Sharom's Sedition Act challenge

The Federal Court has dismissed Universiti Malaya law lecturer Associate Professor Dr. Azmi Sharom's challenge against the constitutionality of Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

The court also ruled that the law enacted under British rule was constitutional.

On September 17, Azmi filed the application, arguing that Section 4 of the Act was unconstitutional and violated Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech.

The decision was made by a panel of five judges headed by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria.

In October last year, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court allowed Azmi’s application to transfer the charges against him to the High Court to challenge the prosecution against him from the Federal Constitution standpoint.

Azmi was charged for making seditious statements as published in The Malay Mail Online on August 14, 2014. His remarks were on the 2009 Perak Menteri Besar crisis. He pleaded not guilty.

If convicted, Azmi could be fined up to RM5,000 with imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.