MPs from Southeast Asia today urged the Anwar Ibrahim-led administration to repeal repressive laws in Malaysia and legislate a bill that protects human rights defenders.
In a press conference this morning, the leadership of Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said Malaysia should take the lead in championing human rights in the region, which had seen repressive laws being abused against activists and MPs for criticising the government.
APHR co-chairperson Charles Santiago said there is an opportunity present for Malaysia to take on the role - with the country having a new government led by Anwar, whom himself had experienced laws being abused to oppress him when the PKR president was an opposition leader.
"I think it is a good time for us in Malaysia to be united to protect and promote human rights.
"We call on the Malaysian government to have a human rights defenders bill or law to protect MPs, environmentalists, trade unionists and indigenous community leaders, among others.
"All of them can be protected under the human rights defenders law, protecting them from intimidation. So I think, Malaysia needs to consider the possibility of formulating a law promoting and protecting the lives of human rights defenders," he told the presser held in Kuala Lumpur.
Charles was joined by APHR chairperson Mercy Chriesty Barends, Teodoro Baguilat Jr. (APHR board member) and Subang MP Wong Chen - who is an APHR member.
According to Charles, countries like Myanmar and Cambodia had seen violent attacks against their opposition MPs, including being thrown into jail, physical assault, and to the extent of being executed for going against their governments.
While in Malaysia such physical violence is rare, like when Anwar was assaulted by the then inspector-general of police Rahim Noor some 20 years ago, Charles said intimidation against human right defenders and government critics were often done through certain laws - which were open for abuse.
Adding to the argument, Wong listed a number of laws deemed repressive in Malaysia that the government should repeal, or amend in order to prevent them from being abused.
They include the Sedition Act, which he said had been frequently used to silence opposition politicians, the Communications and Multimedia Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act, and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).
Opposition MPs had also been humiliated by the authorities during investigations, he added.
"I always remember this. They always charge you under sedition (for criticising the government), and they also humiliate you.
"Like what happened with Rafizi (Ramli), they (authorities) put him in a purple lock-up outfit and made him walk barefooted to his office to take his computer.
"This is to humiliate, this is a form of oppression and this must stop," he said, referring to the time when PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli was arrested by the police in 2015.
Wong also called all political parties in the country to come together and support the repealing of oppressive laws.
According to him, all major parties today have had their time in the government and opposition, and experienced being at the receiving end of such repressive laws.
"The logical next step is for all political parties to come together to repeal these laws."
Sedition Act
Meanwhile, when asked if they think laws that control freedom of speech such as the Sedition Act should be totally repealed, Wong and Charles differed in their stands.
For Wong, he believed that such a law is still needed to address hate speech, which can pose a risk of disharmony in a multiracial country.
"If it is used against racial tone, secessionist and such calls, it is understandable. But you can't use it to pursue comments against the government.
"We need a proper amendment, to make sure there are enough checks and balances... (define) what is seditious or not. And not leave it (interpretation) to a minister or police.
"No complete freedom of speech, hate speech is bad. We should not condone hate speech, especially criticising one's race and religion," he said.
Charles, however, said the country has other laws that can be used to deal with hate speech and similar issues.
While stressing that he agreed with Wong that hate speech should never be condoned, the country does not need the Sedition Act.
"I think basically, how the Sedition Act has been abused and will continue to be abused, it has no place in Malaysia, and certainly has no place in masyarakat madani." - Mkini
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