Sanusi Md Nor, the current caretaker of Kedah, has been making headlines lately. He might have come into your radar for the first time back when he took a test drive during Malaysia's MCO, while the rest of the Rakyat had to stay home due to Covid-19 restrictions. Despite political changes in Malaysia, he remained popular and continued as Kedah MB, ousting Mukhriz, Mahathir's son. Sanusi is quite the character, known for his spirited and enthusiastic speeches, though some might find them a bit excessive. Also, who could forget the time he showed up at LIMA Langkawi in a Navy Uniform while everyone else wore suits? Isn't he cute?
However, recently, things took a dramatic turn when the PDRM showed up at his apartment at 3 o'clock in the morning. The reason behind this sudden arrest lies in a fiery speech he delivered in Selayang. During that speech, Sanusi made some controversial remarks about the Selangor MB, Amirudin Shari, and even questioned the credibility of Selangor Sultan, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, for appointing Amirudin Shari as the MB. This didn't sit well with the Selangor Council of The Royal Court, who filed police reports against Sanusi on behalf of the Sultan.
Now, some may argue that the police report was politically motivated, given that Sanusi made those statements under his party's banner. However, the core issue was the slander against the Sultan's decision, which indirectly challenged the Sultan's capability to make decisions. Also, the police report was not made by any politician from any political party. It was made by the councilmen in The Selangor's Royal Court.
It's not uncommon for politicians to resort to playing the 3R (race, religion, and royalty) cards and then claim they were misunderstood or victimized when things go awry. Surprisingly, there are supporters who believe these claims. But how far can politicians stretch the 3R cards? Where does the line turn blurry?
As for the timing of Sanusi's arrest, some questioned why it had to happen at 3am. The PDRM's IGP, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, clarified that they had tried reaching out to Sanusi and his political secretary, but their calls were ignored or rejected. Consequently, they had no choice but to make the arrest at his home, given the court hearing was scheduled for that morning.
During the court proceedings, Sanusi pleaded not guilty to the two counts of uttering seditious remarks that could incite disloyalty towards any Rulers. If convicted, he could face maximum three-year imprisonment or a fine of up to RM5,000 under Section 4(1)(a) of the Sedition Act.
As the situation unfolds, many took to social media to ask if this arrest was really necessary. Similar instances have occurred in the past, such as when a 61-year-old man was arrested in his home in Negeri Sembilan at 3.57am after making negative remarks about Sanusi, showing a pattern of odd timing.
With State Elections on the horizon, one can only anticipate what other surprises Sanusi might have up his sleeve.
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