Bersatu information chief Razali Idris said Puad, an Umno Supreme Council member, should direct his demands to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Razali said that efforts to abolish the Sedition Act should be led by the unity government since Pakatan Harapan had previously promised to do so if they came to power in Putrajaya.

“Don’t ask why Muhyiddin didn’t abolish the Sedition Act,” he told FMT. “I want to ask Puad to pressure the current government leaders to bring forward a motion (to abolish the act in the Dewan Rakyat) and demand they fulfill their promise.”

Yesterday, Puad hit back at criticism by Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin over the use of the Sedition Act against Muhyiddin.

Puad said there was no need for Hamzah to brag about how Muhyiddin had never used the law against his political rivals when he was the home minister from 2018 to 2020, adding that Muhyiddin did not abolish the Sedition Act during his time as prime minister.

Hamzah previously labelled Anwar and PH’s leaders hypocrites for using the Sedition Act against Muhyiddin, the Perikatan Nasional chairman, as they had opposed the law and promised to abolish it if they came to power.

On Tuesday, Muhyiddin claimed trial at the sessions court in Gua Musang, Kelantan, to a charge of making seditious remarks at a ceramah during the Nenggiri by-election campaign.

Muhyiddin was accused of having questioned why he was not invited by then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, to become the prime minister after the 15th general election, despite having the backing of 115 MPs.

If convicted, he could be fined up to RM5,000, or jailed for up to three years, or both.