YOURSAY ‘Why is a journalist arrested for reporting the views of another person?’

UN expresses concern over 'arbitrary' sedition swoop

Haveagreatday: It is good that the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights office has rightly voiced concerns over this blatant attempt to suppress free speech in our country. Better late than never.

What a shame that our country is holding a seat in the UN Human Rights Council.

J Ng: Accusations of any wrong government actions will very soon be considered seditious. And Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's Sacred Four will soon include Umno and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to make it 'Sacred Six'.

To further reduce any ambiguities and legal disputes, the Sedition Act should include a clause whereby any action to prosecute will be the sole discretion of the attorney-general (AG) and the home minister.

When this becomes law, no Malaysians and foreigners can accuse the government of not upholding the rule of law.

Vasudevan: UN High Commission on Human Rights office spokesperson Rupert Collvile, your passport will soon be blacklisted and you can no longer visit Malaysia.

This is your punishment - much like the anti-Lynas protesters and all those foreigners who speak against our government.

MingXiang: Collvile, what do you mean that the persecutions may be "arbitrary" to silence critical voices? The persecutions are indeed to silence critical voices but there is nothing arbitrary about them.

As someone said, we have freedom of speech in this country, only that freedom after speech is not guaranteed.

Malaysia Truly Asia: The UN has so much on its plate that we wonder whether they are effective.

It looks like they can tell off Malaysia, but there are 50 other countries with more atrocious human rights records and the UN can't do anything about them.

Truth Prevails: The UN voice will not be heard because the government is deaf. Say this loudly in some international forums of the UN, where decisions can be taken to punish these people of poor mentality.

Gov't aims to sow fear with 'shhhedition' blitz

David Dass: Building a nation of diverse peoples with diverse cultures and religions is no easy task. You first start with a written constitution which clearly sets out the rights of all citizens. And we have that.

Under our constitution each citizen is equal before the law and enjoys the equal protection of the law. He has the right to free speech, to peaceful assembly, freedom of movement, freedom of religion, the right to vote, etc.

Discrimination is outlawed in the country. We have hereditary Malay rulers whose status and powers are set out, Islam is the official religion of the federation, Malay the national language and Article 153 sets out the special rights of Malays who were citizens of the federation at the time of independence and their descendants.

We have a federal parliament, state legislative assemblies and we have periodic elections. Ours is a multiparty system and we have a strong opposition.

Why is a reputable law academic charged under the Sedition Act for expressing his view on a matter of law? Why is a journalist arrested for reporting the views of a person charged with sedition? Why is a lawyer charged for expressing his disagreement over a judgment affecting his client?

There are voices of dissent and this is normal in a vibrant democracy. But there are also voices of extremism and racism which threaten the social fabric of this country. These people use rhetoric which alarm and provoke and inflame. Why are they given so much latitude?

RR: We are pushing back the clock 100 years as if we are a still colony of the British or a foreign power.

Even when the Harmony Act replaces the Sedition Act, if there is biased or selective prosecution, we are not a democratic country.

Drngsc: If telling the truth and telling this government where they have gone wrong is seditious, then let’s all be seditious.

With this corrupt government, being seditious is right. Not being seditious is not being a good Malaysian.

MingXiang: The writer of this article, Malaysiakini journalist RK Anand, please presents yourself at the Dang Wangi police station tomorrow at 3pm to have your statement recorded.

The quota for sedition charges for September needs to be filled.

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