Police slapped sedition charges on a blogger and an author, setting the stage for sensational trials later in the year.

The two men are Malaysia Today webmaster Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin and businessman and writer Syed Akbar Ali who had allegedly posted seditious remarks on the former’s website. Both pleaded not guilty.

Raja Petra was charged in a sessions court here under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 with publishing a seditious article titled “Let’s Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell” in his blog www.malaysia-today.net on April 25. He allegedly committed the offence in his house, No. 5, Jalan BRP 5/5, Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh.

The 58-year-old charismatic blogger caused a stir when he refused to take up judge Nurmala Salim’s bail offer of RM5,000, choosing instead to go to Sungai Buloh prison, until the trial fixed for Oct 6-10.

If found guilty, Raja Petra can be jailed a maximum of three years and/or face a fine of up to RM5,000.

Raja Petra was represented by a six lawyers - Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, K. Balaguru, PKR’s Selayang MP William Leong, J. Chandra, DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Jeswinderjit Singh.
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Meng: With the above statement and with the reappointment of Muhammad Muhd Taib to the cabinet, it only shows that Pak Lah has not heard the rakyat. He still doesn’t get it. I am not sure if he is ill-advised.

It was not the cyber-campaign that led to BN’s disastrous results as the Internet only gave an avenue for the rakyat to release some tension and to vent their frustrations. Cyberspace helped each Malaysian realise that they were not the only ones who felt distressed but there were others who were equally frustrated.

Perhaps Pak Lah needs to know that the reason for BN’s fall is the frustration of being a Malaysian. From doing business to dealing with government civil servants; there is not an occasion when corruption and graft is absent. It is so rampant. Then in the backdrop, you have overt racist remarks spoken carelessly and without thought. There are difficulties in making ends meet with the rising costs of everything.

The call for the rakyat to change their lifestyle is matched with the extravagant lifestyles of our leaders. There is arrogance and a lack of sensitivity on the part of the government. This, dear prime minister is the reason for the rakyat’s anger and if you still cannot get it then I do not know how else to get this message across.
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