PAS MP wants government to give space to people to criticise the government.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sedition Act should not be indiscriminately used to restrict individuals like former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Instead, the government should give freedom to the people, including Mahathir to raise important issues, said Pasir Mas PAS MP Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz today.
“We the Opposition are not satisfied with this Sedition Act. Many people question it too.
“Although PAS does not support the Citizens’ Declaration led by Mahathir, it does not mean we support any move to stop criticising the government,” Nik Abduh said when met at the Parliament lobby today.
He was commenting on a statement by Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed who said recently police would take action against the former prime minister if the statements at the People’s Congress in Shah Alam on Sunday were found to be seditious.
Nur Jazlan had said although the country practised freedom of speech and assembly, if the March 27 forum intended to cause chaos, police would not hesitate to take action.
Meanwhile, the Abolish Sedition Act Movement (GHAH) has also asked the authorities to stop investigations against Mahathir for giving speeches criticising the leadership of the country.
The movement also condemned the investigation conducted against lawyers Charles Hector Fernandez, Francis Pereira and Shanmugam Ramasamy for a motion submitted at the Malaysian Bar annual general meeting on March 19 calling for the resignation of Attorney-General Apandi Ali.
This followed the move by the AG to clear Prime Minister Najib Razak of all wrongdoings in connection with the RM2.6 political donations in his personal bank accounts.
GHAH’s coordinator Amir Abd Hadi said the Bar was only carrying out its duty to uphold the rule of law and the administration in accordance with Section 42 (1) of the Legal Profession Act 1976.
“Malaysia’s fundamental freedom provided for in the Federal Constitution has been undermined by the presence of this Sedition Act.
“The government should not hide behind this act to silence criticism, and should respect the rights and freedom of speech, assembly and presses as in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution,” said Amir in a media statement today.
The movement also wants Prime Minister Najib Razak to fulfil his 2012 promise to abolish the Sedition Act and release anyone detained under this law.
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