Former Malaysian Prime Minister and current opposition leader Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged with sedition for allegedly insulting the country’s previous king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah. The charges stem from comments Muhyiddin made during a state election campaign rally on August 14, where he questioned why he was not invited to be prime minister after the 2022 elections. Malaysia has a rotational monarchy system where sultans from each state take turns being king.
Muhyiddin pleaded not guilty in court and could face up to three years in prison if found guilty. The monarchy in Malaysia, though largely ceremonial, is deeply respected by the ethnic Malay population. Sultan Abdullah’s son criticized Muhyiddin’s remarks, stating that they could divide the people and erode trust in the royal institution.
Muhyiddin insists that his comments were factual and not meant to insult the royalty. The former prime minister was replaced by Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar in January. The current king, Sultan Abdullah, has not publicly commented on the case. This incident highlights the sensitivity and reverence with which the Malaysian people hold their monarchy, as well as the potential consequences of making contentious remarks about the royal family.
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