I am deeply dismayed and concerned by the continuous selective, and wanton use of the archaic sedition law to repress opposition leaders and civil rights activists from voicing out against clear cut abuse and flaws in our democratic institutions.
On February 11, a day after the shocking decision to again incarcerate Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim, political satirical cartoonist Zunar was hauled up under The Sedition Act for his satirical cartoon on Twitter.
This was followed by threats of further arrest by the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar on twitter against other opposition politicians.
Yesterday on February 19, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan was also arrested under The Sedition Act for his remarks against ds Anwar Ibrahim’s conviction.
Strangely enough, racist tweets by ministers and selective members of the public; including assertions of involvement of the ruling elite in the murder of Altantuya are conveniently ignored by the IGP and the government. Specifically, fresh on our minds is the recent call by Ismail Sabri, the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry to boycott Chinese traders. Unfortunately, no reparatory action has been taken by the authorities until today.
As a member of the United Nations and currently sitting on the Security Council, we find it shameful that Malaysia can continue to willfully taint the rule of law through selective prosecution and investigations that seemingly favor the government. There seems to be no end to the authorities’ penchant in creating a culture of fear and oppression by going on a “sedition witch hunt” and closely policing public debate, even on social media!
We are reminded that Article 19 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the General Assembly of The United Nations states:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
The Malay Mail online reported on January 27 that Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird took note of reports on the series of arrests here under the Sedition Act, and said the Malaysian government should not wield the law undemocratically to silence its critics.
“Freedom of expression is essential to any democracy, and we look forward to seeing progress on this issue,” Baird said according to the report.
This year as Malaysia takes over the reigns of ASEAN chairmanship, the government must showcase moral authority and principled courage to lead.
Unfortunately, leadership is lost as the Prime Minister reneged on his promise to repeal the Sedition Act last year.
As Professor Gurdial Singh Nijar, a Law Faculty professor at Universiti Malaya, has outlined, the Sedition Act “was enacted by the British primarily to subjugate any challenge to its rule”. Other than an amendment in 1970, the act is largely intact, and has been used against political opponents ever since its enactment. He also said that the “provisions of the Act are vague and broad and allow persons to be charged on flimsy grounds”.
Even 70 years ago, legal commentator Edward Jenks described these provisions as “the vaguest and arbitrary in criminal law.”[1]
The people should be free to exercise their right to criticise the government without fear of reprisal from the authorities. No government is infallible, least of which one makes political persecution it’s raison d’etre.
Dato’ Seri Najib must end this spate of persecutions or do the needful by relinquishing Malaysia’s Position in both the United Nations Security Council and the ASEAN chairmanship.
Nurul Izzah Anwar
Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai
Vice President of KEADILAN
Director of KEADILAN JPRP
