Ibrahim has immunity to Sedition Act, others don’t

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YOURSAY ‘How many times has the Perkasa chief got away with it?

 

Ibrahim Ali says 'no' to BN if Sedition Act abolished

Gerard Lourdesamy: To prove that the Sedition Act is still needed as advocated by Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, I challenge the police and attorney-general to arrest and charge the former Pasir Mas MP for a slew of seditious statements that he has been making in the last six years.

 

If the authorities remain silent and refuse to take action against the Perkasa president, it proves that the Act has outlived its purpose and has become obsolete.

 

The fact that 52 percent of Malaysians voted for Pakatan Rakyat in GE13 on a manifesto that expressly promised to abolish the Sedition Act, Ibrahim Ali and the rest are the minority.

 

The government should either accept the verdict of the majority or hold a referendum to let the people decide if such an undemocratic and draconian law is still needed in the 21st century in a country that aspires to become a developed nation by 2020.

 

J Ng: Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali is talking big purely because he has been exempted from being charged for sedition.

 

By right, Perkasa should be the first to be charged under the Act for inciting racial and religious polarisation.

 

The abolition of the Act does not mean uncontrolled freedom and a disregard of national security. The call for its abolition is never a call by non-Malays against the Malays.

 

By all means, this Act should be maintained if it applies to everyone without fear or favour.

 

Hank Marvin: Let us not take the words of this frog prince. He has been with Umno-BN since his younger days: he was the one who organised street protests that eventually led to the imposition of emergency rule in Kelantan in 1977 after which Umno took over the state from PAS.

 

Sadly today PAS has forgotten that and supported MB Khalid Ibrahim in Selangor. It has forgotten that they had to deal with someone who was an Umno lackey in their then Kelantan MB, Mohamed Nasir.

 

Swipenter: That is not Ibrahim Ali’s reason (in arguing that the Sedition Act should stay). His real reason is that he has lost the privilege of impunity to spew hate speeches. With the repeal of the Act, the playing field is leveled and he doesn't like it one single bit.

 

Right now the law is not applied evenly to everyone. Tell us how many times had Ibrahim Ali threatened ‘May 13' onto the non-Malays and got away with it?

 

 

Umno divisions want Sedition Act to stay

 

Fairnsquare: Instead of working with the PM on the National Harmony Act, to ensure that Malays rights are adequately protected while multi-racialism is promoted, these racists are just echoing Mahathirism.

 

The abolition of the Sedition Act is a cry from the people and not only the opposition. This act was used by the British to suppress anti-colonial activism.

 

Does Umno, as the new colonial masters, need it? I do not think so.

 

Disgusted: Minister in the PM’s Department Shahidan Kassim can talk like that because Umno holds all the power and BN is an autocratic government. From the army, police to all civil services, they are all beholden to them.

 

Even the civil service in Pakatan Rakyat governments are selected and placed there not to serve the government of the day but BN. The only way to break the hegemony of Umno-BN is for rakyat to remove them through the ballot box.

 

Alas, it is not so easy with the gerrymandered electoral boundaries. The Election Commission is helping BN to cheat.

 

It looks like a losing battle to save this country from a corrupt and autocratic regime. However, if we pray, God may intervene and a miracle can happen.

 

CQ Muar: Shahidan, it is people like you with such low mentality that wish for a stiffer penalty and the retention of the Sedition Act. This is to protect and ensure Umno stay in power and wield their supremacy over other races.

 

My question is: Would you still wish for the Act to remain should the opposition take over Putrajaya?

 

Swipenter: It is obvious that Umno Baru wants no opposition. Anything you say or do must not put them in a bad light and the ISA (Internal Security Act) and the Sedition Act are handy tools to ensure that.

 

However don't underestimate the human spirit and the willpower and determination of the people to fight injustice, repression and oppression.

 

Kawak: Shahidan, t he PM has already said the Sedition Act will be abolished. This country belongs to the rakyat not by Umno members.

 

ACR: Umno divisions want both the ISA and the Sedition Act to remain as a political tool. If the law was applied fairly, Umno fellows would be the first to be charged under these laws.

 

Apply them fairly or abolish those Acts.


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