Sarawak DAP condemns the BN government for tabling the amendments to the Sedition Act which it claims to be a travesty to the terms in the formation of Malaysia.

“The BN government tabled for first reading in Parliament the Sedition Act Bill which, among others, provides that any talk of a state seceding from Malaysia is seditious.This is a travesty to the terms in the formation of Malaysia," its chief Chong Chieng Jen said today.

Chong ( left ) is the MP for Bandar Kuching and state assemblyperson for Kota Sentosa.

He said that it was once argued in the state legislative assembly before Sarawak agreed to form Malaysia that the right to secede was an implied condition for the Malaysia agreement.

“Now, with this Bill, such right will be criminalised by the parliament. What is even worse is that once you are charged under the amended act, there is no right to be bailed, you stay in lockup or jail until the whole case is over,” he said.

DAP MPs will oppose amendments

Chong said all DAP MPs would oppose the amendments and called upon Sarawak BN MPs to also oppose it to protect the constitutional rights of Sarawakians.  

“Let us put aside our individual political views and belief and put the interest of Sarawak above everything,” he said.

Sarawak has 31 MPs including five from DAP and one from PKR, while Sabah has 25 MPs with two from DAP and one from PKR.