Sanusi's sedition charges reveal hypocrisy among liberals, says academic

The recent charges against Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor reveal a bias in the attitude of liberals who frequently talk about freedom of speech in Malaysia and call for the repeal of laws such as the Sedition Act, an academic says as waves continue over the prosecution of the Kedah menteri besar. 

Shafizan Mohamed, a lecturer at International Islamic University Malaysia, also said that the group would nonetheless look for ways to justify their stand. 

"His statement was made against Amirudin Shari," she said, referring to the Selangor menteri besar whose appointment Sanusi had questioned in a political speech. 

"But it was turned into a 3R issue," she added, using the initialism for issues related to race, religion and royalty. 

"Those who have been so open all this time are suddenly saying 'long live the king'."

Describing the times as the "post-truth" era, she said everyone was now free to create their own version of the truth.

"Truth is whatever you like, until even the people are confused." 

Sanusi's charges under the Sedition Act had sparked expressions of concern, with critics citing Pakatan Harapan's (PH) promise to repeal the law in its election campaigns. 

Former Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah was among those who had spoken out, alongside rights group Lawyers for Liberty and political parties such as Muda. 

Sanusi, the Jeneri assemblyman, was charged on July 18 with uttering inflammatory words in a political talk in relation to the appointment of Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and the establishment of the coalition government. 

While he later apologised to the Selangor ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said in a statement that the issue was not yet resolved. 

Communications expert Abd Aziz Aizam said some parties who previously spoke against the act appeared to have done an about-turn.

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he cited a case in which PKR member Iswardy Morni had been charged under the Sedition Act in 2021. 

"Those who criticised the act before now support it, and some who used to support it now criticise it," he said.

Politics vs respect for royalty

Analyst Kartini Aboo Talib meanwhile said that the Malays were loyal to their rulers but still viewed Sanusi's charges as biased. 

Kartini, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said others had yet to be charged despite being accused of issuing racial statements.

She was believed to be referring to DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, who was recently quoted by China Press as saying that the "green wave" would mean the end of non-Muslim religious rights.

"Of course, the Malays will turn out to vote in response to the 'green wave'," she said, referring to the phrase used by DAP leaders to describe Perikatan Nasional's gains at the last general election. 

Lim, the Bagan MP, is being investigated by the police under the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act. 

Kartini said Sanusi's charges also brought into question the extent to which the influence of the royal institution and the Malays' respect for it would determine the pattern of voting in the state elections. 

The Selangor ruler, for example, had once openly criticised former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who was leading PH at the time. 

The Johor palace had also issued a statement implying that the Barisan Nasional government should be maintained. 

For her part, Kartini believes that royal criticism of political leaders will not have a big impact on voters. 

"Political literacy in Malaysia is very good," she said. "Respect for leaders and institutions are different matters."