It is ironic that on the eve of independence the country is still shackled by archaic colonial laws such as the Sedition Act, said electoral reform group Bersih.

"The recent slew of sedition charges is a slap in the face of the progressive democratic nation we are aspiring to be.

"The Sedition Act is an archaic law enacted by our former colonisers for the purpose of suppressing us and preventing us from being our own masters.

"It is highly ironic that the progeny of our Merdeka forebears continue to use the law for the same purpose on fellow citizens!" said Bersih steering committee in a statement today.

The past months have seen the Sedition Act coming down hard on opposition leaders, with four being charged in just a span of the past week.

The government has however repeatedly denied that it is using the draconian law to target the opposition.

‘We cannot afford to be complacent’

The Bersih steering committee added that even in several other aspects, the country has not improved from its repressive past.

It cited the continued control of the media through the Printing Presses and Publications Act and the Communications and Multimedia Act as well as unabated cases of deaths in custody.

Likewise, it said the right to association remains fragile, with the recent anti-racism movement Negaru-Ku being investigated for its "illegality" after right-wing groups took offense at it.

Most important, the electoral reform movement said its effort for a fair redelineation and an independent Election Commission is still being ignored.

"We cannot afford to be complacent. What was won yesterday may be lost today and indeed has been demonstrated so.

"Our biggest challenge is still citizen apathy, more so vis-a-vis the political shenanigans that abound on both sides of the divide," it said.

As such, the Bersih steering committee reminded Malaysians, on this Merdeka eve, that they still needed to play a crucial role in attaining "true independence".

"By the next Merdeka, we want to be a more confident nation that would not be sidetracked from our goal of becoming a truly free people," it said.

Guan Eng: Merdeka overshadowed

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng meanwhile lamented that this year's Merdeka celebrations would be a grim one following the mass of sedition charges and probes.

In his Merdeka Day message today, Lim said the independence celebrations were marred by "selective prosecution and double-standards of laws" used against the opposition.

"(Meanwhile) BN political leaders continue to raise the political temperature with extremist actions and divisive statements," he said.

For example, he asked why no action has been taken on rude demonstrations "with butt exercises" outside former Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan’s home.

"Or why was there no action against the lies made by former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad that the Penang state government was anti-Islam merely because it permitted prayers of an NGO’s private building in Penang to be conducted by Muslim, Hindu and Christian priests?

"Malaysia celebrates an uncertain 57th Merdeka anniversary overshadowed by increasing racial extremism, twin MH370 and MH17 tragedies as well as loss of jobs for 6,000 MAS employees, selective political prosecution of PR leaders, depriving top students of university places of their choice and rising costs of living," summed the Bagan MP.

Meanwhile, Negara-Ku committee chairperson Zaid Kamaruddin urged Malaysians to jealously guard freedom in the country to ensure the country remains on the right track.

"Let us foster unity through mutual understanding and love so that we can safeguard the interests of all communities in our multiracial society.

"Let every rakyat feel that they belong here to contribute, pledge loyalty and achieve their dreams," he said in a statement.