Following the continued existence of the Sedition Act 1948 and its questionable usage on certain individuals, media non-governmental organisation Geramm has urged its practitioners to walk in solidarity with the Malaysian Bar tomorrow.

The gathering at Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur beginning 10.30am tomorrow is to protest against a law which has been abused to restrict the people’s right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, Geram said.

"Geramm’s participation also follows a recent meeting between our representative, along with the Institute of Journalists Malaysia (IOJ), with prime minister's press secretary Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad to hand over a similar petition of protest which recorded more than 100 signatures from media practitioners who are against the Act.

"Hence Geramm is inviting media practitioners to walk along with the Malaysian Bar tomorrow and protest against a law which has been abused to restrict those two fundamental rights."

The Bar Council announced that it is organising the protest walk called ‘Walk for Peace and Freedom’, after the Malaysian Bar in an extraordinary general meeting last month approved a motion to hold the walk, where they will march from Padang Merbok to the Parliament.

This is the fourth walk of protest of its kind in the 67-year-old history of the professional body.

Participants are expected to gather at around 10.30am before marching to Parliament, where a representative from the Malaysian Bar is expected to hand over a memorandum of protest to a representative of the government.

Many ambiguities in the Act

 

Geramm, in commenting on the investigation into Malaysiakini’s journalist Susan Loone, emphasised that there are many “ambiguities” in the provisions under the Act which can be abused to prevent any individual from speaking up out of fear.

In the event that a published article is at the centre of an investigation under the Act, Geramm also urges authorities to carry out their duties in a professional manner.

“Geramm hereby urges all media practitioners who are against the use of the Sedition Act to come together and demand that the government fulfill its promises of implementing legal reforms and secure the rights to freedom of expression for all Malaysians.”

Previously, it was reported that Loone had been arrested and quizzed for nine hours following an interview she had with Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh.

Geramm is a loose coalition of journalists, media representatives and activists who are fighting for freedom of the press and its practitioners.

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