If Malaysia is to be worthy of its seat in the United Nations Security Council, it has to abolish the draconian Sedition Act, says Alor Setar MP Gooi Hsiao Leung Leung.

Gooi noted that only last week the UN Human Rights Council issued a "scathing report" on Malaysia's use of the Sedition Act to “criminalise dissent”.

"The world is watching us. How are we to convince them that we can take on critical issues, be counted on to stand up with the rest of the international community against injustices and human rights abuses perpetrated by oppressive regimes when, domestically, we crack down on and arrest our academicians, students, social activists, journalists, lawyers and politicians for their dissenting opinions?" he said in a statement today.

Gooi ( right ), who is also PKR head of international affairs, said global response to Malaysia's inclusion into the council was at best "lukewarm" because of their negative view of the country.

"This negative perception of Malaysia is largely due to our dismal human rights record at home."

Gooi added that Malaysia's teetering on international issues has also not inspired confidence.

"In June of this year, our prime minister praised the bravery of Islamic State (IS) fighters, only to be forced into an embarrassing U-turn and to denounce the criminal actions of the IS. 

"This was followed by empty rhetoric and sloganeering in his call for a global movement of 'moderates' to fight extremism," he said.

Very guarded in response to downing of MH17

Likewise, Gooi said, Malaysia was very guarded in its response to the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

This is in stark contrast to the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot, who has vowed to confront and take a tough stand against Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit next month," he said.

As such, Gooi said, Malaysia has the task of convincing the international community that the country is worthy of the seat at the UNSC and it can start b y doing this at home.

"I therefore take this opportunity to remind our prime minister that his first, inescapable and immediate task is to clean up our own lamentable domestic record by honouring his 2012 promise to abolish the Sedition Act," he added.