Malaysian lawyers march against sedition law
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Hundreds of Malaysian lawyers yesterday held a protest march in the capital to demand the repeal of the country's sedition law, which they said impinges on freedom of expression.
Nearly 1,000 members of the Malaysian bar, some carrying placards and banners printed with “Abolish Sedition Act”, marched to the parliament building in Kuala Lumpur to call on legislators to abolish the British-era law. Representatives of the group handed their demands to representatives of Prime Minister Najib Razak.
In recent months, several people have been charged under the law, which criminalises speech that could bring hatred or contempt or disaffection against the government. Conviction carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment or a fine of 5,000 ringgit ($1,600) or both.
“The sedition act is a law specifically designed to shut you up,” Christopher Leong, president of the Malaysian Bar, told his colleagues. “We have seen the unprecedented use of this act in the last three months against students, journalists, lawyers and academics,” he added.
Najib promised to abolish the Sedition Act as part of his reform agenda, and replace it with a so-called National Harmony Bill. The wording of the proposed new bill is still under consultation.
