Seditious Statement to the Sultan ; Karpal Singh found guilty

The Chairman of Democratic Action Party (DAP), Karpal Singh have been found guilty by the High Court for sedition after questioning His Royal Highness the Sultan of Perak 's action in removing Dato' Seri Ir Nizar bin Jamaluddin as the Menteri Besar in 2009. Justice Datuk Azman Abdullah set March 7 for sentencing after Karpal Singh counsel who is also his son, Gobind Singh Deo, informed the court that his father is unwell  and needed time to prepare his mitigation.

Karpal Singh, 73, was charged with having said at his legal firm in Jalan Pudu Lama on Feb 6, 2009 that the removal of Dato Seri Ir Mohammad Nizar and the appointment of Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir as the new Menteri Besar by the Sultan could be questioned in court. The charged, under section 4 (1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 , provides for a maximum jail term of three years and a fine of RM5,000 or both, upon conviction.

The High Court had, on June 11, 2010 acquitted and discharged Karpal Singh without calling for his defense but, following an appeal by the prosecution, the Court of Appeal, on Jan 20, 2012 ordered the MP of Bukit Gelugor to make his defense. Azman, in his judgement, said the Court found that Karpal Singh's testimony, delivered after seven days, and that of another defence witness had failed to raised a reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case.

Karpal Singh told the reporters that he respected the decision of the High Court, and that he would appeal soon after the court meted out the sentence.