KUALA LUMPUR – Civil society organisations are demanding the government stop using the archaic Sedition Act 1948 to impede freedom of expression, after seven activists were hauled up by police today for questioning under the legislation.
In urging the authorities to drop all investigations against #Lawan organisers and other human rights defenders, the groups demanded the urgent reinstatement of the moratorium on the Sedition Act, as well as its immediate repeal.
The CSO Platform for Reform steering committee urged the government to act now and not be complicit in allowing the human rights in Malaysia to deteriorate further.
In a statement, it said the use of the Sedition Act has created a chilling climate of fear, hindering citizens from exercising their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and expression, signalling a downward spiral into an authoritarian state.
For these reasons, it said the Act is long overdue for repeal.
“We are appalled to hear that seven Sekretariat Solidariti Rakyat (SSR) activists are again hauled in for questioning at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, this time under the Sedition Act,” it said in a statement today.
“The investigations are unwarranted, disproportionate, and demonstrate a persistent heavy-handed response to any form of expression that is critical of ruling powers. This only serves to prove the wide and arbitrary nature of the Sedition Act.”
The group said that this year alone, there are at least 17 cases involving 37 individuals being probed into under the repressive law.
This morning, seven SSR members were summoned to the Dang Wangi police headquarters to be probed under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, the second time they are being questioned under the same Act.
The were previously questioned on August 13 over their involvement in organising the #Lawan street protest in July.
During Pakatan Harapan’s time in power, a moratorium was imposed on the Sedition Act, among several oppressive laws, but it was later lifted in December 2018.
Following the change in government in March last year, the Act was again implemented.
In a separate statement, SSR condemned the use of the Act on its seven members, claiming the investigations against them are a waste of time and public resources, and serve as a form of intimidation against the rakyat.
It said the Act was used during the British colonial period in its attempt to suppress those demanding independence, and that the continued use of the legislation is a mark of disrespect towards the country’s freedom fighters.
“As such, SSR urges the immediate repeal of the Act. Are we truly independent if the people’s voices continue to be oppressed by archaic laws?
“We scream for independence but the fact is we are still colonised by penguasa tolol (foolish rulers)!” – The Vibes, September 4, 2021
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