SELAYANG, July 18 — Caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor pleaded not guilty to two charges of sedition in the Sessions Court here today.

Sanusi appeared in the courtroom dressed in a white shirt, black pants and shoes with no socks.

He was charged under Section 4(1)(A) of the Sedition Act for statements made on July 11 that insulted the Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah during a speech in Gombak.

After Sanusi was read his charges, he answered with: "Not guilty, Your Honour.”

For this first charge, Sanusi is accused of insulting the Selangor Ruler during a speech in the state.

Sanusi is said to have compared the Kedah and Selangor royal households, remarking that the Kedah Ruler would not have appointed caretaker Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shaari as a state leader.

Judge Nor Rajiah Mat Zin then set bail at RM5,000 and placed a gag order on him not talk about the case until it is over.

For his second charge, Sanusi was brought in front of Judge Osman Affendi Mohd Shalleh.

He was also charged under the same Sedition Act for comments made during the same speech on July 11.

For this charge, Sanusi had accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of using the monarchy to justify the formation of his unity government.

After the charges were read to Sanusi, he pleaded not guilty once more.

The judge then set bail at RM5,000 and placed a gag order on Sanusi to not talk about the case until it is over.

Both judges set October 4, 2023 for written submissions.

The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, while Sanusi was represented by Datuk Shaharudin Ali dan Wan Rohimi Wan Daud.

Almost a hundred media personnel were present in the courtroom today with a strong show of police presence as well.