The United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights office has expressed concern over what it sees as a rise in persecution for peaceful expression in Malaysia.

 

"The Sedition Act of Malaysia is overly broad and does not outline well-defined criteria for sedition,” its spokesperson Rupert Collvile ( left ) said in a statement.

 

"We call on the government to quickly initiate a promised review of the Act and to repeal or amend it in line with its international human rights obligations."

 

Collvile added that the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights office believes that the persecutions may be "arbitrary" to "silence critical voices".

 

As such, it urged the government to halt action under the Act and drop all charges preferred.

 

Colville pointed out that among the 19 who have come under the dragnet since August include civil society members and religious leaders.

 

He said among cases of concern include the arrest of Malaysiakini journalist Susan Loone ( right ) for sedition.

 

Colville also raises concern over the investigation against lawyer Edmund Bon and Universiti Malaya law lecturer Azmi Sharom.

 

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last week said that the government is reviewing whether to replace or amend the Act.

 

This came despite his promise to repeal the colonial-era law in 2012.

 

In the wake of mounting protests, attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail also said that his office is reviewing sedition charges against Azmi and other cases.

 

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