Home Ministry won't repeal Sedition Act, other repressive laws

 

The Home Affairs Ministry has no plan to repeal or amend existing laws viewed as oppressive, which includes the Sedition Act 1948.

"It (the Sedition Act) is able to act as a form of deterrent to Malaysians so as not to ridicule sensitive issues," the ministry said in a written reply to a question from Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh (above).

The DAP lawmaker had asked the minister whether the government will repeal or amend the Act to at least recognise the right of an accused to enter their own defence.

The ministry added that from time to time there would be a need to review the legislation for improvement.

"The police will also continue to monitor the dissemination of information and immediate action will be taken if there are elements involving racial and religious sensitivities.

"This is because these sensitive issues, if not curbed, can affect the peace and harmony of the people," the ministry said.

De facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan also told Parliament that the government always conducts reviews of existing laws, including the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA) and the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 for improvement.

He said the views of civil society were always taken into account in the review process.

”I feel the government has no problem, especially if the views given by civil society are for us to improve the existing laws," Takiyuddin told the Dewan Rakyat.

He was responding to a supplementary question from R Sivarasa (Harapan-Sungai Buloh) on whether the government will amend or repeal the OSA and implement the Freedom of Information Act, especially to protect whistleblowers.

Takiyuddin (photo, above) said whistleblowers who acted in good faith were protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010, which came into effect on Dec 15, 2010.

Their protection, he said, was in terms of information confidentiality, including their identity, address and employment.

He added that whistleblowers were also immune from civil and criminal action, as well as from harmful action against them or any persons related or connected to them.

Takiyuddin added that the objective of the Act was to fight corruption and other misconduct in the public and private sectors by encouraging and facilitating members of the public to expose wrongdoings.

The protection provided for whistleblowers is through enforcement agencies, including the MACC, Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Police, Companies Commission of Malaysia and the Securities Commission of Malaysia. - Mkini