Opposition not buying Najib’s false reforms

Calling the prime minister a false democrat, PKR vice president Nurul Izzah says the decision to repeal the Sedition Act is not genuine.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s promise of abolishing the sedition law “smacks of hypocrisy when it is slated to be replaced by the National Harmony Act”, says PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

“Clearly, Najib had proven himself to be a false democrat when one takes a closer look at his list of false reforms,” she said, describing the replacement for the ISA, the Peaceful Assembly Act, as equally draconian and arbitrary as its predecessor.

The new law was being used to persecute her father Anwar Ibrahim for participating in an April mass rally for electoral reform, she said.

The opposition leader is facing three charges under the law, including encouraging a “riot” during the rally, which could see him jailed and barred from politics — although he could still run on appeal.

Phil Robertson, deputy director, Asia Division of Human Rights Watch meanwhile said: “Until the Malaysian people see the draft of the National Harmony Act, and can make an informed comparison of the current and proposed future law, the jury will still be out, waiting to render a decision.”

Najib yesterday announced that the much dreaded colonial-era Sedition Act will be repealed and would be replaced by a National Harmony Act as part of a drive to allow greater freedoms in the country.

Najib, who aims to turn Malaysia into a “developed nation” by 2020, said yesterday the new National Harmony Act would nurture mutual respect among the various races, which was vital for stability.

“The new Act will safeguard the right to freedom of speech while protecting national unity by preventing the incitement of religious or ethnic hatred,” he had said.

Malaysian authorities had justified the use of the sedition law, which includes the threat of jail, as vital to curbing comments or actions that could stoke racial conflict in the multicultural nation.

Since the 2008 elections, there has been mounting pressure on Najib by rights groups and the opposition to remove such laws in the country, which is long-known for authoritarian rule.

Najib, who came to power in 2009, has previously repealed two other laws, including the requirement for newspaper owners to renew their printing licences annually.

Earlier this year he replaced the 1960 Internal Security Act (ISA) to curb the use of indefinite detention without trial, although critics have argued the new law is little or no better.

Najib announced the repeal of the Sedition Act during a speech at the Attorney General’s chambers yesterday.

“(The) Sedition Act represents a bygone era in our country and with today’s announcement we mark another step forward in Malaysia’s development,” he said.

-AFP