LFL calls for charges against activist Heidy Quah to be dropped
Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) says it views the criminal charge levied against Refuge for the Refugees founder Heidy Quah at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with grave concern and wants them dropped.
It said the decision to charge the activist with an offence under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) comes as no surprise...
Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) says it views the criminal charge levied against Refuge for the Refugees founder Heidy Quah at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with grave concern and wants them dropped.
It said the decision to charge the activist with an offence under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) comes as no surprise.
“It is one of the infamous provisions that has been used continuously against activists or even members of the public who dare speak out against the government or any of its agencies.
"The unusually wide and vague terms used in Section 233(1)(a) gives overwhelming and excessive powers to enforcement authorities to decide what is ‘offensive’.
"Thus, the law has been wielded even against someone like Quah who was merely exposing the horrible conditions at immigration detention centres which is a matter of public interest," said LFL coordinator Zaid Malek in a statement today.
Quah was charged over a June 2020 Facebook post about alleged mistreatment of refugees at immigration detention centres.
"Essentially, the government is unconstitutionally and unjustifiably curtailing the fundamental right of freedom expression that is guaranteed under the Federal Constitution.
"It is utterly nonsensical that exposures by activists like Quah could be detrimental to public order or morality warranting criminal prosecutions; when it is corruption and abuse of power by the authorities that are the real diseases that decay our democratic system.
"Any country that treats whistleblowers as criminals will soon lose its moral legitimacy," said Zaid.
His views echoed that of MPs and senators from both sides of the political aisle who called upon the government to drop the charges as well.
NGOs and civil society actors have similarly pledged their solidarity and questioned the government’s motives behind the legal action.
LFL said if prosecution against Quah was not withdrawn, then the government has decided that it'd rather cover up than admit their mistakes and improve on their shortcomings and they would rather the public live in fear and suppress any public interest issues from being discussed in a public forum.
"We hereby remind the government that it has a duty to uphold the Constitution and to protect the rights of every Malaysian citizen to free speech.
"Even though said freedom is not absolute, the limitations imposed by the Constitution do not curtail expressions of dissatisfaction and criticism against the government or any of its agencies.
"The government must therefore repeal the draconic provisions such as Section 233(1)(a) of the CMA and withdraw the baseless criminal charge immediately," he concluded.
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