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MELAKA - Former Dewan Negara senator Tan Sri Rais Yatim pleaded not guilty at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court today to a charge under the Sedition Act linked to the crisis involving the Negeri Sembilan royal institution.
The 84-year-old claimed trial after the charge was read before Judge Raja Noor Adilla Raja Mahyaldin.
According to the charge, Rais allegedly uttered seditious words at a hotel in Simpang Ampat, Alor Gajah, at around 1pm on June 5.
The sedition charge stems from remarks Rais made expressing support for Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as Negeri Sembilan's 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar and urging loyalty to him.
Rais, who is also Parti Wawasan Negara chairman was charged under Paragraph 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, punishable under Subsection 4(1) of the same act.
If convicted, he faces a fine of up to RM5,000, an imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Shahrizat Ismail, Nor Azizah Aling and Nadia Mohd Izhar.
They proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety.
However, lawyers representing Rais, including his son, Danni Rais, along with Sheela Menon, Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz, Ahmad Soleh Yusof and Syahmi Aiman Mohamad Nasir pleaded for lower bail.
The defence told the court that their client had given full cooperation by appearing in court despite only being notified of the charge at around 10.30pm, yesterday.
The court then set bail at RM8,000 with one surety and fixed Oct 27 mention.
It was reported that Rais had previously spoken publicly about the dispute involving the institution of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
In September, he voiced his views on the position of the royal institution and the alleged involvement of the Attorney General's Chambers in the dispute.
In July, two Negeri Sembilan state honours conferred on Rais were revoked with immediate effect on the orders of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
For the record, Rais was appointed as the chief legal adviser (Penasihat dan Peguam Utama) to Negeri Sembilan's top customary (adat) leadership on Apr 2.
