Summon AG over Sedition Act prosecution, parliament committee told
The Parliament Standing Committee on Rights and Gender Equality must summon Attorney-General Tommy Thomas over the continued prosecution under the Sedition Act, according to Suaram...
The Parliament Standing Committee on Rights and Gender Equality must summon Attorney-General Tommy Thomas over the continued prosecution under the Sedition Act, according to Suaram.
The rights group executive director Sevan Doraisamy told Malaysiakini the committee must demand a public explanation from Thomas over this despite Pakatan Harapan's commitment to repeal the legislation.
In a statement earlier, he censured Harapan for failing to deliver its promise to abolish the Sedition Act and other draconian laws.
"Harapan cannot hide behind the veil of separation of powers as the administration was the one that has failed to institute the necessary policy reform.
"Its failure to abolish these laws and take remedial action has resulted in the conviction of Fahmi Reza under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and now, (preacher) Wan Ji Wan Hussin under the Sedition Act 1948," he added.
Earlier today, the Shah Alam High Court allowed the prosecution's appeal and enhanced Wan Ji's prison sentence from nine months, which was imposed by the Sessions Court in 2014, to one year.
Shah Alam High Court judge Abdul Halim Aman also ordered Wan Ji to begin his sentence at the Kajang Prison today.
The preacher was charged under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act over a Facebook post regarding Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Meanwhile, Sevan said Suaram wants the government to implement a moratorium on the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act pending their respective repeal and amendment.
He added that Suaram would also organise a solidarity action for Wan Ji at the Kajang Prison at 8.30pm tonight.
Gov’t must get its act together
Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) also criticised the stiffer sentence for Wan Ji, describing it as “a huge stain on freedom of speech in New Malaysia.”
“Given that the government has repeatedly said the Sedition Act will be abolished as promised in the Harapan manifesto, questions must be asked regarding the Attorney-General's Chambers' reckless conduct in not only opposing Wan Ji's appeal against his conviction but also appealed to enhance his sentence.
“The government must get its act together as the Sedition Act is an archaic piece of colonial legislation that was not even enacted by our independent Parliament.
“It is all the more disappointing that many of the then opposition politicians who are now in power, have failed to act against the Sedition Act when they are aware, and some have experienced first-hand, how easily the legislation can be misused against dissidents,” said LFL director Melissa Sasidaran in a statement.
Earlier, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang's political secretary Syahredzan Johan also demanded an explanation from the prosecution for appealing for a heavier sentence to be imposed on Wan Ji.
“Although the Sedition Act has not been repealed, the government has repeatedly expressed its intention to abolish the legislation.
“In fact, the deputy public prosecutor retracted several charges under the Sedition Act before this in line with the government's policy,” he added.
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