Malaysia - August 2024

Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged with sedition on 27 August for remarks he made about a former king of Malaysia during a campaign appearance. Muhyiddin, who leads the opposition Perikatan Nasional coalition, criticized the decision of then-monarch Sultan Abhdullah of Pahang to appoint Anwar Ibrahim prime minister over Muhyiddin following the 2022 election. Muhyiddin has faced several high-level criminal cases under Ibrahim’s premiership, which he holds to be politically motivated. The government and civil servants at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which is responsible for separate money laundering charges Muhyiddin currently faces, deny these allegations. If convicted, Muhyiddin faces up to three years in prison.

Sources: The Diplomat, Channel News Asia, International IDEA, Malaysia Now