Rayer charged with sedition over ‘celaka Umno’ remark
Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N Rayer was today slapped with two separate sedition charges over his controversial "celaka celaka Umno" (damn damn Umno) remark which he had made on May 20 this year during the state legislative assembly sitting.
Rayer was first charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act before Sessions judge Zulhazmi Abdullah who fixed bail at RM3,000 and fixed October 17 for mention.
Immediately after that, Rayer was taken to a separate Sessions Court in George Town where he was slapped with another charge under the Sedition Act, also for his "celaka" remark.
Rayer allegedly committed the offence when he related what he had said at the state assembly to a crowd in a Bukit Gelugor by-election ceramah at Jalan Delima on May 22.
He also claimed trial before judge Zanariah Hussain. He also faced an alternative charge under Section 504 of the Penal Code for making a speech with intent of breaching the peace.
Rayer also claimed trial for the alternative charge which is punishable by two years’ jail, fine or both.
The two-term DAP rep was composed when he stood in the dock. When the court interpreter read out the ceramah speech for his second sedition charge, Rayer corrected her several times when she stumbled with the text.
It was reported that Rayer had made the controversial “celaka” remark when referring to a protest in January in which a banner that read “Because of DAP leaders, May 13 happened. Want some more?” was held up.
When making the remark, Rayer also mentioned local Umno leaders – Kepala Batas MP Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahya and state Umno secretary Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir – whom he said had also made statements touching on race at the protest in Seberang Jaya.
Rayer's remarks sparked a protest outside the assembly building the next day on May 21. Some of the protestors became rowdy, broke through the main gate and entered the house, which is a restricted area, looking for Rayer.
Rayer was supposed to be charged on June 19 but the Attorney-General Chamber's held back. No reason was given for the postponement.
The prosecution today was led by state prosecuting unit chief Datuk Razali Che Ani, who was assisted by deputy public prosecutor Charanjit Singh.
Razali had earlier asked the judges to each set bail at RM20,000.
Rayer, who is a well-known lawyer himself, was represented by Gobind Singh Deo, Ramkarpal Singh Deo, S. Raveentharan and V. Parthiben.
Gobind said the RM20,000 bail was exorbitant and appealed for it to be fixed at RM2,000.
"My client is an elected rep, a lawyer and a married man who lives in Penang. He won't run away. He will come to court and face the charges.
"Charging under the Sedition Act is now a trend. We won't back down," Gobind said, adding that Rayer had cooperated with the investigations from the start.
The public gallery was full at both courtrooms today as Rayer's family and colleagues turned up to give him support.
Among them were DAP secretary-general and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng; state excos Jagdeep Singh Deo, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Phee Boon Poh; Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun and several state assemblymen. – August 27, 2014.
