KUALA LUMPUR: The question of whether the trial of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor at the Selayang Sessions Court will proceed or be suspended is set to be addressed in today's proceedings.
Sanusi, who is also Perikatan Nasional election director, faces two charges of sedition stemming from a political speech regarding the appointment of the Selangor Menteri Besar and the formation of the unity government.
Sanusi had recently filed an application to transfer the trial from the Selayang Sessions Court to the Shah Alam High Court.
Sanusi also seeks permission to suspend the trial at the Sessions Court until the High Court decides on the transfer application.
The application, under Section 417 (1) (a), (b), and (e) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), is based on the grounds that a fair and impartial trial cannot be conducted in any lower court than the High Court.
The matter was brought to light through a motion filed by the law firm Hasshahari & Partners at the High Court last Monday.
Previously, the Sessions Court had scheduled a 12-day trial, including today and tomorrow, as well as on the 5th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 19th, 22nd, and 23rd of February for Sanusi's case.
Sanusi faces two charges for alleged seditious remarks made on July 11, 2023, at Simpang 4, Taman Selayang Mutiara, Kampung Bendahara, Gombak, at 11pm.
Prosecution is pursued under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948 (Act 15), which carries a maximum penalty of a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or imprisonment for up to three years, or both, upon conviction.