It appears that the current most famous word in Malaysia is sedition. And it’s used to nab anyone who dares to question the government. The latest victim is widely respected law professor and political analyst, Dr Azmi Sharom.
Azmi was charged with sedition for giving an academic opinion, which did not go down well with the powers that be. On Tuesday, the country’s highest court dismissed his application on the constitutionality of the archaic law, forcing him to face trial.
Freedom of speech is the epitome of a democratically functioning society and the space to criticise the state is crucial to maintaining this freedom. Malaysia, however, still maintains this pre-independence Act to suppress legitimate dissent, restrict press freedom and arbitrarily arrest Opposition politicians, activists and vocal academics.
The Federal Court ruling marks another dark day for the country’s judiciary, civil liberties and is a travesty of justice.
The government has a long history of using preventive laws to stifle disssent. The vague definition of sedition remains open to wide interpretation and is a tool used to gag free speech.
Atleast 30 people have been charged for sedition over the past year. Azmi is the first academic.
Prime Minister Najib Razak promised to do away with the Sedition Act, a repressive colonial-era law, while campaigning for votes in 2013. He also pledged to open up the democratic space in the country.
In sharp contrast, amendments to the Sedition Act earlier this year, extended the maximum jail term to twenty years from the current three years. And established a minimum three year custodial sentence for certain cases.
The crackdown on dissent has also been intensified following allegations of corruption against Najib, after millions of dollars were found in his private bank account.
But just like the many critics who have refused to be threatened by the government’s scare tactic, Azmi has also vowed to keep voicing his opinions without fear.
He remains a source of inspiration for many and would continue to do so.
On the other hand, Najib’s government has once again demonstrated the characteristics of an authoritarian regime.
And one thing is clear – Najib’s vow to strengthen the Sedition Act was not to maintain peace and harmony in the country.