What's happened
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged with sedition for allegedly insulting the previous king during a campaign speech. He pleaded not guilty and faces up to three years in prison if convicted. The charges stem from comments made on August 14, questioning the king's decision to appoint Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, Muhyiddin Yassin's remarks during a campaign speech on August 14 led to his sedition charge, where he questioned why he was not invited to be prime minister despite claiming majority support. The Independent noted that he pleaded not guilty and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. Nikkei Asia highlighted that this charge marks him as the first former leader to be prosecuted under the colonial-era law. The South China Morning Post emphasized the potential impact on Muhyiddin's political standing, suggesting that his comments could alienate Malay voters, a crucial demographic for his party. The contrasting views from these sources illustrate the significant political ramifications of this case.
How we got here
Muhyiddin Yassin served as Malaysia's prime minister from March 2020 to August 2021. His recent remarks during a by-election campaign have led to his sedition charge, marking him as the first former leader to face such charges under Malaysia's colonial-era Sedition Act.
More on these topics
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Muhyiddin bin Haji Muhammad Yassin is a Malaysian politician who has served as the 8th prime minister of Malaysia since March 2020.
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Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. The federal constitutional monarchy consists of thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two regions, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo's East Malaysia.
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Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who has twice served as the 12th and 16th Leader of the Opposition since May 2020 and from August 2008 to March 2015.