Muhyiddin Yassin, a prominent figure in Malaysian politics, faces a new legal hurdle. The former Prime Minister and current opposition leader has been charged with sedition for allegedly making insulting remarks about Malaysia’s former king, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah. This charge, filed in the northeastern state of Kelantan, stems from comments Muhyiddin made during a political speech earlier this month.
The charges relate to Malaysia’s unique system of monarchy. The country has nine sultans who rotate the role of king every five years. The monarchy holds a largely ceremonial position and enjoys deep respect within the nation. Criticism of the royalty can be prosecuted under the colonial-era Sedition Act.
The alleged offense lies in Muhyiddin’s questioning of the former King’s actions following the 2022 general election, which resulted in a hung parliament. In his speech, Muhyiddin reportedly claimed he had secured enough support to form a government but questioned why Al-Sultan Abdullah did not appoint him as Prime Minister. Ultimately, Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Prime Minister in November 2022, after Al-Sultan Abdullah’s five-year reign ended in January.
Muhyiddin, who leads Malaysia’s conservative, Malay-centric opposition bloc, maintains his innocence and argues the charges are politically motivated. He faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of 5,000 ringgit ($1,148) if found guilty. This charge comes in addition to separate accusations of corruption and money laundering that were filed against him last year.
Anwar Ibrahim’s government has denied targeting political opponents, asserting that these charges are part of their efforts to combat high-level corruption. The case is sure to be closely watched, highlighting the complexities of Malaysian politics and the delicate balance between free speech and the country’s traditional institutions.
