Rais charged with sedition over proclamation of ‘new’ Negeri Sembilan ruler

Former Senate president Rais Yatim has been charged with sedition at the Melaka sessions court in connection with the purported proclamation of a new Negeri Sembilan Yang Dipertuan Besar.

The former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar is accused of uttering seditious remarks during a press conference on June 5 following the alleged proclamation of a new Negeri Sembilan Yang Dipertuan Besar at a five-star hotel in Melaka.

Among other things, the Wawasan chairman allegedly said: “Praying for the safety of Tunku Nadzaruddin as the 12th Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. So, after this, His Royal Highness Tuanku Nadzaruddin is free, as the 12th Yang Dipertuan Besar, to carry out any royal duties. And our call is to focus our loyalty on him, because we abide by the rule of law as well as the customary rule (adat) that exists in Negeri Sembilan.”

Rais, 84, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him before judge Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin, Astro Awani reported.

The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act for uttering seditious statements, which carries a fine not exceeding RM5,000, imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both.

The prosecution led by deputy public prosecutors Shahrizat Ismail, Nor Azizah Aling and Nadia Mohd Izhar proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety.

Rais’s team of five lawyers, led by his son, Danni Rais, applied for a reduced bail amount, arguing that Rais had cooperated well with the court despite only being informed of the charge at around 10.30pm the night before.

Raja Noor Adilla, in her ruling, allowed bail of RM8,000 with one surety.