Tian Chua convicted of sedition over remarks at May 13 forum
THE STAR
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vice-president Tian Chua (pic)has been convicted of sedition over remarks he uttered at a May 13 forum following the 13th general election three years ago.
Batu MP Tian Chua has been sentenced to three months’ prison and fined RM1,800 for uttering seditious words at a May 13 forum three years ago.
Sessions Court judge Zulqarnain Hassan granted a stay of the prison sentence, pending appeal.
He said the sentence was meted out taking into consideration the position of the accused as a federal lawmaker and the seriousness of the crime.
The sentence will not affect Tian Chua's position as MP as the punishment does not merit an automatic disqualification.
When delivering his guilty verdict on Wednesday, Zulqarnain said he was satisfied that Chua Tian Chang, who is better known as Tian Chua, had uttered words which had a tendency to commit sedition by way of toppling a democratically elected government.
"The accused used words such as 'bangkit' (rise), 'turun ke jalan' (take to the streets), which were uttered soon after the results of the 13th general election were announced.
"I am satisfied that this is seen as having a tendency to commit sedition," he said in his judgment on Wednesday.
Tian Chua, who is PKR vice-president, was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a punishment of up to three years' jail, fine of not more than RM5,000, or both if found guilty.
He was represented by counsels N. Surendran and Latheefa Koya.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Julia Ibrahim had earlier called for a heavier sentence for the accused, stating that as an MP, he should have used more "responsible avenues" to air his grouses.
However, in appealing for a lighter sentence, Surendran said the speech made by his client during the forum had not resulted in any violent or untoward incidents.
Besides Tian Chua, five others had also been charged with uttering seditious words at the same public forum, which was held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here on May 13, 2013.
They were former Batu Berendam MP Tamrin Ghafar, social activists Haris Ibrahim and Hishamuddin Rais and student leaders Adam Adli and Safwan Anang.
All of them had pleaded not guilty, with their trials conducted separately.
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR vice-president Tian Chua (pic)has been convicted of sedition over remarks he uttered at a May 13 forum following the 13th general election three years ago.
Batu MP Tian Chua has been sentenced to three months’ prison and fined RM1,800 for uttering seditious words at a May 13 forum three years ago.
Sessions Court judge Zulqarnain Hassan granted a stay of the prison sentence, pending appeal.
He said the sentence was meted out taking into consideration the position of the accused as a federal lawmaker and the seriousness of the crime.
The sentence will not affect Tian Chua's position as MP as the punishment does not merit an automatic disqualification.
When delivering his guilty verdict on Wednesday, Zulqarnain said he was satisfied that Chua Tian Chang, who is better known as Tian Chua, had uttered words which had a tendency to commit sedition by way of toppling a democratically elected government.
"The accused used words such as 'bangkit' (rise), 'turun ke jalan' (take to the streets), which were uttered soon after the results of the 13th general election were announced.
"I am satisfied that this is seen as having a tendency to commit sedition," he said in his judgment on Wednesday.
Tian Chua, who is PKR vice-president, was charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which carries a punishment of up to three years' jail, fine of not more than RM5,000, or both if found guilty.
He was represented by counsels N. Surendran and Latheefa Koya.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Julia Ibrahim had earlier called for a heavier sentence for the accused, stating that as an MP, he should have used more "responsible avenues" to air his grouses.
However, in appealing for a lighter sentence, Surendran said the speech made by his client during the forum had not resulted in any violent or untoward incidents.
Besides Tian Chua, five others had also been charged with uttering seditious words at the same public forum, which was held at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here on May 13, 2013.
They were former Batu Berendam MP Tamrin Ghafar, social activists Haris Ibrahim and Hishamuddin Rais and student leaders Adam Adli and Safwan Anang.
All of them had pleaded not guilty, with their trials conducted separately.
