Malaysian political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, has pleaded not guilty to charges of sedition in a Johor Bahru court following his Facebook comments regarding a report on high-level discussions for a casino in the Forest City area. He was charged under the Sedition Act 1948 and faces a maximum RM5,000 fine, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, upon conviction. The court has set Jun 24 for further mention of the case and setting of trial dates.
Badrul was arrested on Apr 28 after posting comments on Facebook related to a Bloomberg report alleging Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had met with business figures to discuss a casino licence for Forest City. The report, published on Apr 25, was denied by Mr Anwar, Genting Group, and Berjaya, with the latter stating that the claims were false and unwarranted. Berjaya also filed police reports citing malicious intent aimed at causing political upheaval. Badrul’s Facebook post insinuated that the casino was linked to Mr Anwar’s plans for Forest City to be a special financial zone.
After a bail of RM10,000 was granted to Badrul, the prosecution recommended a higher bail with additional conditions, including a gag order prohibiting Badrul from making public statements until the case is resolved. This follows a series of charges the activist has faced, including criminal defamation and sedition in Kuala Lumpur. These charges relate to defamatory statements against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and a seditious post made in April. The unity government is considering further action on the casino issue after multiple police reports were lodged.
The government spokesperson mentioned that decisions on taking action against those who made claims about the casino discussions could be decided at a cabinet meeting. Badrul’s lawyer questioned why scrutiny was directed at the activist rather than the publications that reported on the alleged talks. He suggested pulling back press accreditation for media organizations such as Bloomberg, Straits Times, and Business Times and issuing a summons to these organizations by the Attorney General. The case highlights the challenges faced by activists and the media in navigating contentious issues in Malaysia.
