KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, will face another sedition charge for his post regarding alleged talks on the opening of a casino in Forest City.
The outspoken political activist, when met at the court complex here, said he is expected to face the charge at the Johor Baru Sessions Court tomorrow morning.
"I already received a notice from the court and will travel there afterward.
"I believe I would be charged under the Sedition Act," he said in a press conference.
It was reported earlier that Badrul Hisham was arrested on Saturday night to facilitate an investigation into a social media posting he had made regarding alleged talks on the opening of a casino in Forest City, as reported by Bloomberg.
He was arrested at the Tapah Rest and Recreation area in Perak about 7pm before being brought to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters here.
Badrul Hisham described the arrest as a warning by the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in relation to the ongoing Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
Meanwhile, Badrul Hisham's lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali criticised the government for not 'walking the talk' to abolish the Sedition Act.
"Last time they (during the Pakatan Harapan government) promised to abolish this Act, but now they misuse it to silence critics," he said.
Anwar on Thursday had denied reports that the government was mulling a casino licence to revive Forest City in Johor.
The Tambun member of parliament described the claims made in the report as a 'lie'.
Genting Malaysia Bhd has also come forward to dismiss the claims made in the report.
Genting Malaysia, meanwhile, said neither the company nor its chief executive officer Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay were involved in discussions on the opening of the casino.
Earlier, Badrul Hisham claimed trial at the Sessions Court to two counts of making seditious remarks and defaming His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
According to the charge, Badrul Hisham is accused of making defamatory statements where he had reason to believe that it would damage the reputation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The accused was charged under Section 500 of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum jail term of two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Badrul Hisham is also facing charges of making a seditious post at Taman Bukit Cheras at 12.15pm on April 6.
The offence falls under Paragraph 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same Act, which carries a maximum three years imprisonment or RM5,000 fine of both upon conviction.
He was released on RM20,000 bail.
Both charges are linked to Chegubard's social media post which had used the name of the King, and incited hate against His Majesty who had granted an audience to KK Mart Group founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr Chai Kee Kan over the "Allah" socks issue.