Court dismisses Azmi’s Sedition Act challenge

(The Star) – The Fedaral Court has dismissed Universiti Malaya law lecturer Azmi Sharom’s (pic) challenge against the constitutionality of the Sedition Act.

He was seeking to challenge the constitutionality of the law in a bid to strike out a charge against him of making seditious statements in an online portal article.

On Nov 5 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court invoked its power under Section 84 of the Court of Judicature Act 1964 to refer Azmi’s sedition case to the Federal Court for determination, as it involved questions of constitutionality.

Azmi, a columnist with The Star, had claimed trial on Sept 2 to making seditious comments in an article titled “Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told,” that was published on an English online portal on Aug 14.

Azmi, 45, was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act, with an alternative charge under Section 4(1)(c) of the same Act.

He faces a maximum fine of RM5,000 or jail not exceeding three years or both.