AZMI SHAROM THE PROFESSOR Azmi Sharom, a law professor from the University of Malaya, was charged with sedition after comments he made regarding a political crisis in Malaysia’s Selangor state in August 2014, citing the 2009 constitutional crisis in Perak State. The 2009 crisis involved the Perak State government losing a majority in the state legislative assembly after three legislators switched sides. A new government was formed after the assemblypersons visited the Perak Sultan, who then dismissed the former Chief Minister of the state. Asked by an online news portal in August 2014 whether the political crisis in Selangor state could be solved in a similar manner, Azmi Sharom was of the opinion that the method chosen to resolve the Perak crisis was “legally wrong” and should not be repeated. “The best thing [is] to do it as legally and transparently as possible.” On 2 September 2014, Azmi was charged under Section 4(1)(b) and Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948. He pleaded not guilty and posted bail of RM5,000 (USD1,130): “I was shocked to learn that I am being charged under the Sedition Act because of comments I made on the Perak crisis of 2009. My statements were based on established case law and democratic principles. They were given in my capacity as a law lecturer of 24 years standing," Azmi is the first academic to be charged with sedition in Malaysia. Given the broad scope of the Sedition Act, in particular its coverage of judicial, political and social matters, its use by the authorities could have a chilling effect on academic freedom of expression and the ability of scholars to contribute to public debate in Malaysia. CHARGED WITH SEDITION FOR COMMENTS HE MADE REGARDING A POLITICAL CRISIS IN MALAYSIA’S SELANGOR STATE IN AUGUST 2014 Furthermore, Azmi is a long-time columnist with an English-language newspaper where he often voices his opinion on social, legal and political matters. Although he continues to write, if he is convicted the space for writers and the media could be squeezed even further. Azmi Sharom brought a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the Sedition Act in October 2014 , but his petition was rejected by the Federal Court on 6 October 2015. His trial resumed on 15 December 2015 and is currently ongoing. © The Rocket / DAP publication. “This charge is a blow to academic freedom and the freedom of expression. I will most definitely fight this charge. I hope that reason will prevail.” CRITICAL CRACKDOWN: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION UNDER ATTACK IN MALAYSIA 5