KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 ― University of Malaya (UM)’s Assoc Prof Dr Azmi Sharom said today he will fight to prove his innocence, insisting the use of the sedition law against him for merely offering his opinion on the Perak crisis goes against the principles of freedom of expression.

Azmi said he was shocked when he was told of the charge as his allegedly seditious remarks on the 2009 constitutional impasse were based on “established case law and democratic principles”.

“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,” the law lecturer of 24 years’ experience told reporters after posting a bail of RM5,000 at the court complex here.

Earlier today, Azmi was charged for uttering an allegedly seditious claim that the events during the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis was “legally wrong”.

In a packed courtroom, Azmi pleaded not guilty when the charges under Section 4(1)(b) and Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 were read out to him.

If convicted under either the first charge or alternative charge, Azmi will face a maximum fine of RM5,000 or a maximum jail term of three years or both.

His case will come up for case management before Sessions Court judge Zainol Rashid Hussain on October 3.

The law lecturer was previously probed by the police for his quotes in a Malay Mail Online article published on August 14 and titled, “Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told”.

In it, Azmi had cautioned Pakatan Rakyat (PR) against taking any action outside the Selangor state assembly to resolve the ongoing impasse over the Selangor mentri besar’s post, and insisted the lawmakers wait until next sitting to indicate their lack of confidence.

Azmi’s alleged seditious remarks include: “You don’t want a repeat of that, where a secret meeting took place.

Azmi had also said: “I think what happened in Perak was legally wrong. The best thing to do is do it as legally and transparently as possible.”

He is the first academic to be charged following a string of cases where opposition politicians were hauled to court in recent weeks for alleged sedition.

Today, Azmi's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said they will wait for further details before applying to challenge the charge and the constitutionality of the Sedition Act.

“We will fight this to the very end.

“He's absolutely right to say that this would give an impact on academics giving their views, especially on constitutional issues, I think that should be taken seriously,” said Gobind, who is also Puchong MP.