Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged with sedition for comments he made questioning the integrity of the country's previous king. The charges stem from a speech he delivered during a by-election campaign in Kelantan last month.
Malaysia operates under a rotating monarchy system, with nine ethnic Malay state rulers taking turns as the king for five-year terms. The monarchy, while largely ceremonial, holds significant cultural and religious importance for the majority Muslim population of Malaysia.
In his speech on August 14, Muhyiddin raised concerns about not being invited to be prime minister following a hung Parliament in November 2022. He claimed to have the support of the majority of lawmakers but was not appointed to the position. Instead, the then-opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was chosen to lead a unity government.
The former king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, did not comment on the case, but his son criticized Muhyiddin's remarks as potentially divisive and harmful to the royal institution.
Despite denying any intent to insult the monarchy, Muhyiddin faces up to three years in prison or a fine if found guilty of sedition. The use of the colonial-era Sedition Act in this case has drawn criticism from human rights groups, who argue that questioning the exercise of constitutional power by the king should not be considered seditious.
This legal action against Muhyiddin comes amid ongoing corruption and money-laundering charges that he claims are politically motivated. He is the second former Malaysian leader to face criminal charges, following ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption.
