BACKGROUND FACTS
The defendant (accused in the Sessions Court) was charged in the Kuala Lumpur
Criminal Sessions Court for an offence under section 4(1)(b) and alternatively under
section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 (the Act). The principal charge proffered
against the defendant reads “PERTUDUHAN - Bahawa kamu, pada 15 Ogos 2014
jam lebih kurang 12.30 tengahari di pejabat Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah, Ibu Pejabat
Polis Kontijen Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah
Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, telah menyebut perkataan menghasut seperti ayat-ayat
yang bergaris dalam LAMPIRAN A kepada pertuduhan ini; dan oleh yang demikian
kamu telah melakukan kesalahan di bawah seksyen 4(1)(b) Akta Hasutan 1948 dan
boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 4(1) Akta yang sama.” The alternative charge reads
“PERTUDUHAN PILIHAN - Bahawa kamu, pada 15 Ogos 2014 jam lebih kurang 12.30
tengahari di pejabat Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah, Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontijen Kuala
Lumpur, Jalan Hang Tuah, Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala
Lumpur, telah menerbitkan perkataan menghasut seperti ayat-ayat yang bergaris
dalam LAMPIRAN A kepada pertuduhan ini; dan oleh yang demikian kamu telah
melakukan kesalahan di bawah seksyen 4(1)(c) Akta Hasutan 1948 dan boleh
dihukum di bawah seksyen 4(1) Akta yang sama.” [1]
The charges relate to two seditious statements made by the defendant as reported by
the Malay Mail online on 14.8.2014. The statements read: “You don’t want a repeat of
that, where secret meeting took place,… I think what happened in Perak was legally
wrong. The best thing to do is do it as legally and transparently as possible.” [2]
The defendant claimed trial to the charges. Prior to the commencement of the trial, the
defendant applied to the Sessions Court to refer the question on the constitutionality
of the Act to the High Court. [3]
On 5.11.2014, pursuant to section 84 of the Court of Judicature Act 1948 (the CJA),
the High Court by way of a special case referred the following questions to this Court:
“(i) Sama ada Seksyen 4(1) Akta Hasutan 1948 bercanggah dengan Perkara 10(2)
Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan dengan itu terbatal menurut Perkara 4(1)
2