Protest against sedition law before more arrests, Teresa Kok tells Malaysians

Early this month, 112 NGOs formed the ‘Abolish the Sedition Act’ (GHAH) movement. It will be organising a peaceful protest against the Sedition Act. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 21, 2014.

Malaysians must protest against political repression and force Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to fulfil his promise to repeal the Sedition Act as promised two years ago, DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok said today.

The DAP vice-chairman said the current sedition blitz stifled freedom of expression and  showed that Najib’s promise to repeal the act and pledge for political reconciliation as hollow and insincere.

“How many more people will be arrested and charged in the new crackdown which is an obvious selective prosecution against government critics?” the Seputeh MP asked.

She said despite widespread criticism against the government’s move, Najib has not stopped the crackdown.

“Two days ago saw the conviction of student activist Adam Adli (Abd Halim) under the draconian Sedition Act. The excessive penalty imposed on him means that those who have been charged under the act may also face severe penalty if convicted,” said Kok.

Adam Adli was sentenced to a year’s jail after he was found guilty of sedition. He is out on bail pending an appeal.

He is the second student activist to be found guilty and sentenced to jail under the colonial-era law.

Former Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) chairman Muhammad Safwan Anang was sentenced to 10 months’ jail by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on September 5.

Safwan was convicted of uttering seditious words during the same May 13, 2013 forum.

Kok said Malaysians should not allow another Ops Lalang to recur as it had caused hardship for detainees, referring to the security blitz that netted 108 people and shut down several newspapers.

In the 1987 police operation, those detained included a number of lawmakers, activists, educationists, who were held under the Internal Security Act.

The government also revoked the publishing permits of The Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Watan. Watan has been out of print since.

Kok said right-thinking Malaysians and NGOs must speak out against the sedition blitz and drumming in the message that the draconian law must be repealed.

Early this month, 112 NGOs formed the “Abolish the Sedition Act” (GHAH) movement. It will be organising a peaceful protest against the Sedition Act.

Another coalition of young activists groups called HASUT headed by Safwan, launched an awareness campaign recently to educate the public about the Sedition Act.

A number of politicians, academic, activists and journalist have been arrested and charged with sedition in recent weeks. It was seen as Putrajaya attempt to silence its critics.

- TMI