Sedition case against Muhyiddin transferred to new judge
Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid made the ruling after lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, who appeared for the former prime minister, made the application today.
The case will now be heard before Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin.
Deputy public prosecutors Abdul Malik Ayob and Nadia Mohd Izhar did not object to the application.
Earlier, Amer, at the outset of the hearing, said his client was previously facing the sedition case scheduled for trial before Jamil.
"We request for the matter to be heard before the same judge, so the case management in this court set for May 20 can be vacated," he said.
On Feb 4, the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president's legal team informed the court of their intention to challenge the validity of certain provisions in the Act, claiming that "exceptional difficulties" had arisen from its application.
Muhyiddin had pleaded not guilty to a charge of uttering seditious words during the Nenggiri state by-election campaign at the Dewan Semai Bakti Felda Perasu between 10.30pm and 11.50pm on Aug 14, 2024.
The seditious statement related to his claim that he was not invited by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be sworn in as Prime Minister after the 15th General Election (GE15), despite allegedly commanding the support of 115 out of 222 Members of Parliament at the time.
The charge was framed under Paragraph 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 and is punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction.
Muhyiddin was not present in court for today's proceedings and was represented by his lawyer.
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