PETALING JAYA: Amnesty International Malaysia (AIM) urges the Malaysian authorities to take steps to protect freedom of expression in the country.
At the National Launch of Critical Crackdown: Freedom of Expression Under Attack in Malaysia held today, its executive director, Shamini Darshni said the restrictions on the right to freedom of expression imposed in Malaysia’s Sedition Act are phrased in a broad and vague manner.
“These restrictions in the act results in both an overreach and discriminatory application of the law. In fact, where it says, ‘tendency to excite disaffection against any Ruler or government” already sets a very low threshold for the type of criticism of officials that is criminalised, whereas such criticism should not be criminalised at all” she said.
“The Sedition Act does not comply with international human rights law and standards and violates the rights to freedom of expression as guaranteed in Malaysia’s constitution”
She added the Sedition Act was increasingly being used against individuals for simply expressing political, religious and other views.
This was creating a ‘chilling’ effect on freedom of expression in the country, she said.
The report demonstrated the seriousness of the situation and examined six cases that garnered big attention from the public, she added.
Among the cases examined was the case of student activist, Khalid Ismath, on trial for three counts of sedition for social media comments allegedly offensive to the Johor State royal family.
In 2015 alone, there were 91 instances of the Sedition Act being used to arrest, investigate or charge individuals.
This number is nearly five times as many as during the first 50 years of the Act’s existence, she said.
AIM provided four recommendations to the Malaysian authorities to ensure the cases did not increase.
“We want the government to repeal the 1948 Sedition Act and ensure that conviction under the Act are quashed as well as immediately release all those who are imprisoned or detained under the act solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression.
“Besides that, we want the government to review and amend all other laws which restrict the right to freedom of expression as well as to ratify and implement in law, policy and practise the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at the earliest opportunity,” said Shamini.