Hishamuddin sends letter of demand to Najib

Social activist Hishamuddin Rais has sent a letter of demand to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, through his lawyer, asking the Umno President not to broadcast videos of him at the party’s General Assembly.

The video depicted Hishamuddin together with Datuk S. Ambiga and Adam Adli allegedly involved in seditious activities.

"I have contacted and discussed with my lawyers. We have agreed to send a letter of demand to Najib.

"The letter of demand is intended to warn him to stop the dissemination of this video clip related to me which was aired at the Umno General Assembly in PWTC," said the 63-year old social activist at a press conference today.

According to his legal team, Daim and Gamany, as stated in the letter of demand, the video was aired during the announcement to retain the Sedition Act 1948. It also implied that Hishamuddin was guilty under the act.

They added, the airing of the video could influence the court's decision on his ongoing trial where Hishamuddin is being charged under the same act.

In addition to that, the screening as well as the mass dissemination of the video through the media is considered subjudice and can be seen as contempt of court.

"We demand you (Najib) to stop screening, displaying, distributing or disseminating the video related to the ongoing trial in which Hishamuddin is being charged, at the general assembly.

"Should you fail to comply, we have instructions to commence committal proceedings against you," the letter stated.

Hishamudding is being charged under the Sedition Act 1948 after calls to topple the government during a forum he attended last year.

On Thursday, Najib announced that the Sedition Act 1948 will not be abolished but strengthened with additional provisions in place. Among them was a provision to protect the sanctity of Islam and make insulting any religion a criminal act.