COMMENT In the aftermath of the Tahrir Square incident in Egypt in 2011, the Malaysian Penal Code was amended in 2012 to introduce new Sections 124B to 124N.  These 13 new sections deal with “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” (nine sections) and “sabotage and espionage” (four sections).

Section 124B of the Penal Code states:

“Whoever, by any means, directly or indirectly, commits an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years.” 

Other sections deal with printing and selling, etc, of documents and publications detrimental to parliamentary democracy; possession, importation, and receipt of those documents; the posting of any placard, circular or other document containing any incitement to violence or counselling violent disobedience to the law, or dissemination of such information...