Malaysian opposition MP gets three months sentence for sedition

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Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak addresses a news conference in Berlin. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:42pm, 28 Sep 2016Updated: 4:46pm, 28 Sep 2016

A top Malaysian opposition MP was sentenced Wednesday to three months in jail after being found guilty of sedition over statements urging protests against Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government, lawyers said.

There is growing intolerance against critics. The government aims to stop people from voicing out

Opposition MP Chua Tian Chang

Najib has come under fire for using repressive laws against critics and stifling scrutiny of a massive corruption scandal involving state investment fund 1MDB that he is allegedly embroiled in.

Chua Tian Chang, better known as Tian Chua, was found guilty of sedition for inciting Malaysians to take to the streets to rally against corruption in 2013.

Chua, who is the vice-president of the opposition People’s Justice Party, said the court decision reflected the “growing intolerance” of Najib’s regime.

“There is growing intolerance against critics. The government aims to stop people from voicing out,” Chua, who is freed on bail, said.

The sessions court also hit the vocal MP with a fine of 1,800 ringgit (US$435) in a decision slammed by rights groups. Chua’s lawyer N. Surendran said an appeal will be filed.