Although applied extensively in Malaysia, the 1948 Sedition Act is “invalid” as it is not an Act of Parliament, advocate and solicitor Simon Murali argued in Penang last night.

Since it is not an Act of law passed by Parliament, the Sedition law cannot restrict a citizen’s right to freedom of speech and expression, the lawyer said.

Addressing a crowd of 70, Simon said: “The stark reality and stark truth is, the Sedition Act is nothing more than the product of British creativity.

“It is a relic of our colonial past. It was used during the turbulent times of the colonial era, just after World War II,” he added at a forum on ‘Defending Freedom of Speech’ organised by Aliran at the Caring Society.”...