KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Former Malaysian Cabinet minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim claimed trial in a Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur on Friday (Dec 4) to using an offensive remark in an article where he urged Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down from office.

The 64-year-old former law minister was charged with using the internet with the intent to hurt the feelings of others through a blog post he wrote on his website that called on Malaysians to rally behind former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Tun Dr Mahathir has been an outspoken critic of Datuk Seri Najib over his handling of the debt-laden state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), of which Najib is its advisory board chairman.

The offence was said to have been committed at a criminal investigation unit at the Bukit Aman police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at about 3.20pm on Sept 3.

Zaid was accused under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

Sessions Court judge Datuk Jagjit Singh Bant Singh later set Jan 22 as the next case management.

No bail was imposed as it was a summons case.