I call upon the AG to consider directing all prosecutions under the Sedition Act to be stayed pending the outcome of Dr Azmi Sharoms constitutional challenge of section 4 of that Act in the High Court.
Today, it is reported that DPP Mohd Abazafree Mohd Abbas had no objections to the deferment of the sedition trial of ISMA’s Abdullah Zaik in the Kajang Sessions Court pending the outcome of Dr Azmi’s application.
The position should be the same with all trials pending under the Sedition Act. There should be equality and if the Public Prosecutor did not object in this case, there is no reason for other cases involving the same charge to be put to trial either.
Further, all these proceedings would be a nullity in the event Dr Azmi is successful in the High Court.
We should also respect the fact that the High Court has been asked to consider the matter and we should wait for that outcome before pushing ahead with prosecutions in other cases in the meanwhile.
Dr Azmi’s application has been fixed for hearing on the 5th and 6th of November, 2014.