DAP's Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming today blasted Gerakan for its defence of the Sedition Act amendments, asking if it was "blind and deaf" to several politicians, activists and journalists who have fallen victim to the draconian law.

 

"it is sad to see how far a party that is supposed to be the 'conscience’ of BN has fallen in its pathetic and disgusting attempt to defend the amendments to the Sedition Act.

 

"By defending the indefensible, (Simpang Renggam MP) Liang Teck Meng has shown that he and his party have totally lost their moral compass," said Ong in a statement today.

 

He was responding to Liang ( left ) who yesterday defended Gerakan's vote to strengthen the Sedition Act and added that if the rakyat understood the "goodwill" of the amendments, they may even abandon DAP which opposed the colonial era law.

 

"Was it the same spirit of 'goodwill' which led the government to charge the cartoonist Zunar on nine counts under the Sedition Act for his cartoons criticising the judicial decisions to uphold the sodomy convictions against Anwar Ibrahim? 

 

"Was it the same spirit of 'goodwill' which led to the overnight detention and police investigation against Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah for a speech she made in parliament criticising the judiciary? 

 

"Was it the same spirit of “goodwill” which led to the overnight detention and subsequent charges under the Sedition Act against four journalists from The Malaysian Insider and the publisher of the Edge Media Group?" said Ong.

 

He added that Liang was taking voters for fools by trying to convince them that the updated Sedition Act was actually giving greater freedom and protection to the people.

 

"Is he totally ignorant of the double standards which are practised by the authorities in this country?" asked Ong.

 

'Perkasa and Umno immune to Sedition Act'

 

For example, Ong pointed out that Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali remains free despite threatening to burn the Bible while Umno minister Ismail Sabri was treated with kids gloves and was never charged for calling a boycott of Chinese businesses.

 

Likewise, he said former deputy minister Mashitah Ibrahim ( right ) was also let off the hook for erroneously accusing the Chinese community of burning the Quran.

 

"Gerakan is tremendously naïve to think that the amendments to the Sedition Act will not be abused, given the track record of the authorities in the past year, and voters would do well to remember this act come the next general elections," said Ong.

 

He said the joint statement by the Malaysian Bar Council, the Advocates Association of Sarawak and the Sabah Law Association on Friday was enough rebut Liang's flawed argument.

 

The joint statement had called the Sedition Act "inherently flawed" and the amendments only exposed and exacerbated its weaknesses. 

 

"It is a law that undermines genuine unity and harmony, and is counterproductive to lasting peace, strong bonds of unity and real mutual respect in Malaysia," read the statement.

 

Liang's defence of the amended Sedition Act was in response to DAP's Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua ( right ) who yesterday called on voters to punish the 108 MPs who voted to strengthen the law after Malaysiakini published their names.

 

While the amended Sedition Act decriminalises criticising the government and judiciary, it also introduces sedition on grounds of religion and expanded the definition of sedition.

 

The updated law also abolished fines in favour of mandatory jail term of up to 20 years, compared to three years in the previous version.

 

The colonial era law, which has been used in a recent crackdown against opposition politicians and activists (above), was also expanded to include censorship of electronic content.

 

It provides for punishment even to those who are indirectly responsible for seditious content.

 

The Sedition (Amendments) Bill 2015 went to the second reading stage in Dewan Rakyat with a vote of 108 in favour to 79 against, and was passed after 14 hours of debate in the wee hours of April 10.