Investigations under the Sedition Act almost doubled in 2020 compared to last year, according to data compiled by human rights NGO Suaram.
Meanwhile, probes under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) almost tripled.
According to Suaram's 2020 human rights report - there were 20 probes under the Sedition Act launched this year. 19 of those investigations came after the change in government.
Comparatively, the 2019 report recorded 12 sedition probes.
Likewise, there were 93 CMA probes recorded in 2020, compared to 34 last year. Of this year's CMA probes, 23 were launched before the March change in government.
Of the CMA probes in 2020, 15 were on posts for criticising or insulting the police and other authorities, 15 on politicians from both sides - including threats - and 14 on royalty.
13 posts were related to Covid-19 and fake news.
Comparatively, in 2019, there was only one probe on a post related to the armed forces, six on politicians, and three on royalty.
"Apart from the rampant use of Section 233 on the grounds of addressing fake news, the law was also used to stifle political expression especially during the political crisis in 2020.
"Social media users making postings on the internet purportedly insulting or demeaning the monarch or the prime minister (were) either arrested, questioned, or even charged under the said law," Suaram said in the report.
As for sedition probes, six politicians and seven activists or NGO representatives were investigated in 2020, compared to four politicians and one activist in 2019.
In 2019, the politicians probed for sedition were from both the government and opposition, including then finance minister Lim Guan Eng, and Umno's Padang Rengas MP Nazri Aziz.
Whereas in 2020, only opposition politicians were investigated for sedition.
The Perikatan Nasional government has said it would not abolish the Sedition Act. - Mkini
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