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Published by The New York Times on 6 October 2014. By the Editorial Board.
The Malaysian government has increasingly employed the Sedition Act, a British colonial era law, to intimidate and silence political opponents. The law criminalizes speech uttered “to excite disaffection” against the government and defines sedition so broadly that it is an invitation to authoritarian abuse.
Prime Minister Najib Razak had promised to repeal the act, but, since the general elections in May last year, his government has made full use of the law to hound his critics. While Mr. Najib’s ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, won 60 percent of the parliamentary seats in the election, for the first time since independence in 1957, the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, won a 51 percent majority of the popular vote.
The elections seem to have shaken the government enough for it to arrest and prosecute an array of politicians, journalists, academics, students, religious leaders and civil society activists who did not advocate the overthrow of the government. For example, a senior opposition politician was charged with sedition for criticizing a decision by the appeals court in a statement to the news media. A local state assemblyman was charged for allegedly saying “damn, damn” about the government’s United Malays National Organization to several assemblymen. Since 2013, at least 14 people have been charged. Those found guilty can face up to three years in prison.
Mr. Najib’s crackdown is a deplorable attack on free speech and a serious threat to democracy. He appeared to understand this danger when he promised to repeal the Sedition Act. He should do so immediately.
As police initiate investigations into Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, the former Bar Council president said she was proud to be among those caught in Putrajaya's sedition dragnet.
ReplyDeleteAmbiga said that the probe into her “may be a good thing” for the future generation, but added that she had yet to receive word from police, and may not even be charged.
“Nevertheless, if I am charged, I know I am in good company and am proud to stand with all the others who are presently facing the odious Sedition Act,” Ambiga told The Malaysian Insider.
The Malaysian Insider reported today that police are now investigating the Negara-Ku patron for sedition following remarks she allegedly made about Biro Tata Negara (BTN) or the National Civics Bureau at a conference in Kuala Lumpur recently.
The Malaysian Insider learnt that a police report was lodged against the lawyer by a Malay group, Persatuan Pertubuan Merah Terengganu, on October 2, after she allegedly claimed BTN camps were nothing more than brainwashing sessions to turn Malays into racists and bigots.
“I think this may turn out to be a good thing after all. Let the truth emerge,” Ambiga told The Malaysian Insider in a text message.
“We all want what is best for our children and we must never be afraid to speak up in defence of our children, the next generation, if there is any instruction that has the effect of narrowing their minds, thus depriving them of the chance of achieving intellectual excellence.”
She said as taxpayers, every Malaysian had a right to question the government’s actions.
“I note with interest that in other cases, similar words may have been used in relation to vernacular schools and no action was taken because the words are not considered seditious.
“This is why it is best to wait and see if in fact there will be a charge,” added Ambiga. She was apparently referring to Umno deputy division chief Mohamad Azli Mohamed Saad’s call to abolish vernacular schools in the country.
It was reported yesterday that Sepang police chief Mohd Yusoff Awang said Azli’s statement did not contain seditious elements and the case has been classified as a civil matter. “This was just a suggestion from him, not a public statement,” Yusoff was quoted as saying in a Malaysiakini report.
“Therefore, we won’t open any paper to investigate it.”
Ambiga joins a slew of opposition politicians, academics and activists who have been charged, convicted or are being investigated under the Sedition Act 1948...
On September 26, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had his statement recorded by police over a report lodged against him in 2011, where he allegedly uttered seditious remarks over his second sodomy case.
On September 20, police recorded a statement from lawyer Edmund Bon, who is being investigated for sedition for saying that non-Muslims are not subject to fatwas or the Shariah courts.
Former Selangor PAS ulama committee member, Wan Ji Wan Hussin, was charged on September 10 with sedition after posting allegedly seditious words on Facebook that belittled the Selangor Sultan’s role as head of Islamic matters in the state.
On September 4, journalist Susan Loone was arrested in Penang over her article based on an interview with state executive council member Phee Boon Poh and the mass arrests of the state’s Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS) on Merdeka Day.
Universiti Malaya law lecturer Azmi Sharom was charged with sedition on September 2 for his remarks on the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis published in an online news portal.
Other opposition politicians who have been charged with sedition include Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Padang Serai MP N. Surendran, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer. – October 9, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/if-im-charged-i-know-im-in-good-company-says-ambiga#sthash.tG6MArQH.dpuf
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today accused Putrajaya of abdicating its responsibility by refusing to prosecute Malay rights group leader Datuk Ibrahim Ali over his threat to burn Malay-language bibles and describing the act as “defending Islam”
ReplyDeleteThe opposition leader stressed that such threats were not acceptable by the religion, and that it is irresponsible of Putrajaya to categorise it as safeguarding the sanctity of Islam.
He then asked if the position originated from de facto law minister Nancy Shukri or from Umno, the lynchpin of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
"It (burning of the Bible) has never been condoned or tolerated (in Islam),” the Permatang Pauh MP said.
"It is unfortunate that it has come to this and has degraded to this extent that there is no respect for the rule of law, modicum of professionalism and respect for law in this country," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/islam-doesnt-condone-burning-bibles-anwar-says-after-ibrahim-alis-threat-go#sthash.DY58sHur.dpuf
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