A human rights lawyer condemned Putrajaya over its refusal to disclose any information on the alleged arrest of a TikToker under the Sedition Act.
According to Zaid Malek, it was widely believed that the woman, who goes by the username “Jorjet Myla”, was being investigated due to her criticism of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
However, he said, police had remained mum despite attempts by the media to confirm the woman’s arrest and obtain information on the case.
“This is highly concerning as the refusal to disclose pertinent information regarding a matter of national interest to the public is a blatant attempt by the enforcement authorities to decide what matters the press can or cannot report on.ry this story, and by extension halt the public discourse on this issue,” Zaid said in a statement to Malaysiakini.
The activist stressed the importance of the press and its role in a functioning democracy.
By suppressing information from the media, the government incapacitates the public’s ability to truly participate in the democratic process, he added.
Zaid reminded the government that media suppression is a tactic commonly employed in dictatorships, and such action does not fit Anwar’s image as a reform proponent.
“This government has no doubt earned its ‘reformati’ reputation,” he said.
Since early this week, viral social media posts claimed that the woman had been arrested for ranting about Anwar’s leadership in a TikTok video.
She was allegedly remanded for three days and reportedly did not have legal representation at the time.
Police have yet to respond to queries from Malaysiakini since Tuesday seeking confirmation about the arrest and other details.
Pledge to repeal Sedition Act
In a separate statement, DAP Women’s legal bureau chief, Sangeet Kaur Deo, reminded the government that repealing the Sedition Act was a part of the Madani reform agenda.
“Commitments to uphold fundamental liberties were central to the mandate it secured, and it must now be held to account for what appears to be an unexplained reversal of that position.
“In this context, there has been no public update on the arrest or remand of Jorjet Myla, who is reportedly due to be released today.
“Her arrest is condemned, and this government is urged to provide an immediate explanation of its position in relation to the use of the Sedition Act in this case,” she added.
Sangeet said that checks conducted today on the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) portal also confirmed that the 2015 amendments to the Sedition Act, although gazetted, have yet to be brought into force, nearly 11 years on.
“Those amendments, among others, removed the words ‘or against any government’ from section 3(1)(a), which defines as seditious a tendency ‘to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any ruler or against any government’, and repealed section 3(1)(c) in its entirety, which defines as seditious a tendency ‘to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Malaysia or in any state’,” she explained.
Sangeet said the refusal to bring these amendments into force, while invoking the law in cases involving criticism of the government or its leaders, highlights the selective and inconsistent manner in which the Act is being applied, and must be explained. - Mkini
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