Former pro-Anwar leader fined

Sat, 10 Feb 2001 | Source: REUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A former vice-president of a party supporting jailed Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was found guilty on Friday of inciting racial discord in a speech during the 1999 general election campaign, her lawyer said.

Marina Yusoff, who left Parti Keadilan Nasional (National Justice Party) last year after some bitter infighting, was fined 5,000 ringgit ($1,316) under Malaysia's Sedition Act.

This law has often been invoked in recent years against politicians and commentators critical of the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

In her 1999 speech to a mostly Chinese audience in northern Penang state, Marina accused politicians from the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) of starting Malaysia's bloody May 13 1969 race riots.

View JSON | Print