After Malaysiakini verdict, political scientist wants MPs to review contempt law
In the aftermath of the contempt of court verdict by the Federal Court in which Malaysiakini was handed an RM500,000 fine, political scientist Wong Chin Huat called on MPs to review the law to prevent a similar situation from happening in the future.
"We cant tell judges how they should judge, however, if the law is flawed enough to allow bad judgements, we need to fix the law.
"MPs, please function as lawmakers and...
In the aftermath of the contempt of court verdict by the Federal Court in which Malaysiakini was handed an RM500,000 fine, political scientist Wong Chin Huat called on MPs to review the law to prevent a similar situation from happening in the future.
"We can't tell judges how they should judge, however, if the law is flawed enough to allow bad judgments, we need to fix the law.
"MPs, please function as lawmakers and study how the law on contempt of court should be amended to prevent another Malaysiakini case," said Wong in a Facebook post.
He called on parliamentarians to treat the Malaysiakini verdict as a crisis of fundamental liberties and constitutional rights.
"Even if the Parliament is suspended, no one can suspend parliamentarians' brains. The Select Committee on Fundamental Liberties and Constitutional Rights should be convened even if just unofficially. Other MPs should join in too," said Wong.
Yesterday, in a 6-1 majority decision, the bench found Malaysiakini liable for contempt of court over its readers’ comments.
The majority verdict also ruled that the news portal's editor-in-chief Steven Gan was not guilty of the same charge.
The seven-person bench chaired by Court of Appeal president Rohana Yusuf delivered the 6-1 majority decision with the dissenting judgment by Federal Court judge P Nallini.
The fine of RM500,000 exceeded the sum that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had sought, which was RM200,000.
In calling for more action from MPs, Wong also expressed disappointment that there was no shadow minister on information or law from the opposition contingent of 108 MPs to speak out on the case.
"Please debate and propose necessary amendments. Don't tell us that you can't do anything because you are not in the government.
"If you are not bothered to get into the details, nothing would change even if you are in the government," said Wong, not mincing his words.
I am curious if the 5 commentators that made the 5 the deemed ‘contemptuous’ comments were investigated by the police before submitting their papers to AG Office, or if the Court ordered the commentators to be produced in court.
Yesterday's episode has dealt a body blow on our judiciary. Going by the reactions of foreign missions and news media, all reputed ones at that, none had a good word to say. It would be yet another annus horribilis for foreign investments into the country. If ever there was a classic own goal, yesterday's chapter was one. I hope our smart AG can figure out who to charge for this fiasco. I agree with the writer, the arcade sedition law needs to be done away with or at least drastically overhauled.
Quote: "We cant [sic] tell judges how they should judge, however, if the law is flawed enough to allow bad judgements, we need to fix the law." -- Wong Chin Huat. Indeed. There are far too many bad laws in Malaysia. All these laws are designed to be acted upon discriminatorily and in ad hoc ways by the illegitimate regime, the security forces including the police, and the judiciary -- as exemplified yesterday in the court's 6-1 judgement against Malaysiakini. To the lone judge who demurred in his/her decision: well done for seeing the truth. As for the DAP and the cadaver of Harapan, despite the DAP's pledges towards Malaysiakini's fine, shame on you for burying your collective puny heads in sand. This includes Anwar Ibrahim who, like Lim Kit Siang, in a blink of an eye, turned tikus besar for not so much as questioning let alone condemning the 6-1 verdict and the fine against Malaysiakini. Shame, shame, shame. Let's see if they have the biji-biji, collectively, to force the regime to backpedal against all discriminatory laws and bring Malaysia into the 21st century and not where it has been, in the 14th century of traditional Malay ulu-ism.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.