Rahim Thamby Chik's sedition case set for Jan 5 mention

The Sessions Court here today set Jan 5 next year for mention of the case involving former Melaka chief minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik who is charged with posting a seditious remark on his Facebook account against the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah.

Judge Slamat Yahya set the date after allowing an application by the prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Nik Suhaimi Nik Sulaiman, who had asked for the case to be postponed as there were documents yet to be submitted and several issues to be resolved.

Abdul Rahim, 65, was charged with posting the seditious remark on his Facebook account 'Rahim TambyChik' at Jalan Permata 7/1, Section 7 here, at about 8 am on Sept 25 this year.

The charge, under Section 4 (1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948, carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or up to three years' imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.

Abdul Rahim had also pleaded not guilty to an alternative charge of using his Facebook account to make and send comments of a seditious nature with the intention of hurting the feelings of others at the same place, time and date.

The charge, under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and punishable under Section 233 (3) of the same law, provides a maximum fine of RM50,000 or imprisonment of up to a year or both, if convicted.

Besides Nik Suhaimi, the prosecution was also represented by deputy public prosecutors Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar and Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, while lawyers Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, Datuk Syed Alwi Tun Syed Nasir and Kevin Joshua represented Rahim.

Lawyer Datuk Salehuddin Saidin held a watching brief for the Selangor Palace.