Hishamuddin Rais ordered to enter defence to sedition charge

The Sessions Court here today ordered activist Hishamuddin Md Rais to enter his defence to a charge of making a seditious speech at a ceramah on May 13, last year.

Judge Azman Mustapha made the order after Deputy Public Prosecutor Azlina Rasdi managed to prove a prima facie case against the accused after four witnesses testified at the hearing of the case.

The court then fixed Nov 13 for Hishamuddin to enter his defence.

At today's proceeding, lawyer Syahredzan Johan who represented Hishamuddin, 63, told the court that his client would testify under oath from the witness' stand.

On May 29 last year, Hishamuddin and five other activists were alleged to have made seditious speeches to incite the people of this country to change the legally elected government through unlawful means.

Hishammudin is accused of committing the offence at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Jalan Maharaja Lela, here between 8.55pm and 11.15pm on May 13, last year.

The offence under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 is punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act, which carries a jail term of up to three years or a fine not exceeding RM5,000, or both.