UM professor to challenge legality of Sedition Act

University of Malaya law lecturer Prof Azmi Sharom filed an application to review the constitutionality of the Sedition Act 1948 at the Sessions Court here today.

His lawyer, Gobind Singh Deo said Azmi was also seeking an order for the charges against him to be stayed and/or struck out, Bernama reported.

Gobind said the application was made on the grounds that the Act was not enacted by the Parliament and violated Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech.

Through his lawyer, Azmi also applied to transfer his case to the High Court.

On Sept 2, Azmi was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 for his article "Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told" which was published on a news portal.

He was released on a RM5,000 bail.

On Sept 10, more than 500 UM students and lecturers staged a protest at the campus in support of Azmi.

The protest called ‘Solidarity Walk for Dr Azmi Sharom’ was organised by University of Malaya Students Association (PMUM) and University of Malaya Academic Staff Association (PKAUM).

It was also reported that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said the A-G’s Chambers is in the midst of reviewing the cases involving Azmi and several others who were charged under the Sedition Act.

He said the final decision on the matter will be made soon.