The question whether PAS leader Sanusi Md Nor is a boon or bane for his party, or for that matter Perikatan Nasional itself, has been asked previously. Many times, in fact, considering the many controversies he has courted, how he carries himself, the crass language he uses, and, as many people see it, his “overall rudeness.”

But there’s another question being asked now along the same “boon or bane” line, now that he has been charged for sedition: one accused of uttering words that had the tendency to incite disloyalty to a ruler, in this case the Sultan of Selangor; the other in questioning if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had indeed decreed a unity government be formed after last November’s general election.

PAS, rather its Kedah chapter, is taking the innocent until proven guilty stance.

Obviously, they are backing the Kedah caretaker Menteri Besar, which is no surprise. They can’t be abandoning him in his hour of need. Can they? 

After taking such a stance (which is the normal, usual and logical thing to do), the next step would be to sit back and let the court do its job. Let justice take its course.

But the man himself is not keeping quiet, despite a gag order imposed by the court on the case.

While observing the gag order, Sanusi has plenty to say about other things.

He is accusing the government of using enforcement agencies to silence him. And he also says he believes he is getting charged now because of the soon-to-be-held elections in six states, including, of course, Kedah.

“They want to damage my chances in the state polls. I am confident that with these charges, the rakyat will understand their true purpose and wish,” said Sanusi to the media as soon as he stepped out of the Selayang court room on July 18, Tuesday.

By “rakyat” he meant the Malays. This is a given taking account of what he has previously said and done which has hurt the feelings of non-Malays.

As a matter of fact, his president Abdul Hadi Awang has also done the same, with his nasty accusations against non-Malays. That PAS is banking on Malay support is a no-brainer.

Hence, with the court charges against Sanusi, will Malay support be served on a silver platter for PAS and PN?

It looks that way going by the comments and what not in social media. 

The “rakyat” he was referring to are singing the same tune he is singing. Many are sarcastically thanking the government for igniting a Malay “awakening.”

The neutrals are saying that the court charges are already making Sanusi a hero in the eyes of many a Malay. Bear in mind that he is already popular even before this because of his style, crude it may be.

And the neutrals also say the police might have their reasons for picking up Sanusi at 3 in the morning but that would earn him sympathy. 

His court case notwithstanding, Sanusi will not be seen in the same light as before by the Malay Rulers, including the Sultan of Kedah!

Having said all that, the conclusion is that PN, in particular PAS, would reap the benefits come August 12 election day, in Kedah and elsewhere.

Then there is the issue of the government coming under fire from lawyers for using the Sedition Act 1948 against Sanusi.

Why? Because Pakatan Harapan components have long criticized the law for its “vague wording” and Harapan has pledged to review or repeal the law.

Hence, Zaid Malek, executive director at Lawyers for Liberty, deemed it “appalling” that Putrajaya decided to charge the PAS man with the Sedition Act, as Harapan and Anwar Ibrahim had once opposed it because it could be abused.

Anwar responded by saying that using the act was unavoidable as Sanusi had “touched” on the Rulers.

Taking all that into consideration, it looks like the government is on the back pedal. But then there is always the other side of the coin.

As rightly pointed out by columnist Murray Hunter, the complaint against Sanusi came directly from the Selangor Ruler’s Council. Therefore, the unity government cannot be accused of using the police or the court system to their political advantage.

The Malays, the majority that is, put the Rulers in high esteem. They respect the Raja-Raja Melayu, and any act seen as “biadap” towards the Rulers is seen also as “derhaka,” i.e. treacherous, which is not tolerated. And Sanusi is accused of “menghina” the Sultan of Selangor. We can add two and two together.

Sanusi did apologize to the Sultan of Selangor, but the royal response was “this is not over.” That remark is seen by many as the Sultan not accepting the apology.

His court case notwithstanding, I think Sanusi will not be seen in the same light as before by the Malay Rulers, including the Sultan of Kedah.

Razarudin Husain, the IGP, was quoted on July 15 saying the police have (by then) received 57 reports against Sanusi.

According to Hunter, there have been thousands of supportive comments for the charges against Sanusi across all social media platforms. If I may add, most comments were made by the Malays.

As said by Hunter, the PAS man who is also PN election strategist is “now the symbolic bogeyman of all PAS racist and bigoted rhetoric.” And this, according to the columnist, is a potential godsend for PH in the coming elections.

Uncommitted Malays who are fence-sitters could very well be voting for PH rather than casting their votes for PN, or maybe abstain from voting altogether.

So is Sanusi boon or bane? Feel free to make your pick.

(Mohsin Abdullah is a veteran journalist and now a freelancer who writes about this, that and everything else.)