The series of nationwide campaigns PKR conducted shortly after the 13th general election last year, called Black 505, will be repeated under a fresh campaign for the Sedition Act to be abolished, the party announced today.

The PKR central leadership said in a statement that the campaign will begin this month, with a nationwide tour, and will be called Mansuh Akta Hasutan (MAH or Abolish Sedition Act).

The campaign will involve party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Azmin Ali, the statement said.

Currently several PKR leaders - including vice-presidents Tian Chua (Batu MP) and Rafizi Ramli (Pandan MP), and N Surendran (Padang Serai MP) - are facing sedition charges and also other criminal charges that many believe are a form of political prosecution.

Other opposition politicians - such as DAP's Teresa Kok, Penang assemblyperson RSN Rayer, and PAS' Khalid Samad had all fallen under the dragnet.

Previously, activists Hishamuddin Rais and Adam Adli had also been charged under the Sedition Act.

Yesterday, law don Azmi Sharom became the first academic to face a charge under the Act over comments he made about the 2009 Perak crisis.

The nationwide movement, which will include a series of protests co-organised with student groups and other bodies, will make three demands to the government:

  • To abolish the Sedition Act;

 

  • For all charges initiated under the Act to be dropped; and

    •  

  • To stop any effort to introduce a similar provisions under any new Act.
    • PKR said it believes the BN will not abolish the Sedition Act.

    "The continuous use of the Sedition Act against opposition politicians, and even academicians, reflects the true face of the administration of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak," the statement said.

    PKR said it will also replicate the similar kind of civil society movement that was mobilised and successfully got the government to abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA).

    "We will use all our strengths, from Parliament, state assemblies and state party branches, to support and mobilise this campaign," the PKR statement said.

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