DAP condemns in the strongest possible terms, the BN government for charging Universiti Malaya(UM) law professor and former Deputy Dean Of its Law Faculty, Professor Azmi Sharom under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act 1948, over his remarks on the Perak constitutional crisis. He is charged over an article titled “Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told”, which was published in a Malay Mail online portal on August 14.
BN has proven that it speaks with a forked tongue by making empty promise to repeal the Sedition Act when it is carrying out a massive crackdown on any opposition views whether in the form of a slew of charges under the Sedition Act or mass arrests of 156 Pasukan Peronda Sukarela(PPS) members in Penang whilst they were marching in the 57th Merdeka celebrations.
Other PR wakil rakyats charged under the Sedition Act included Padang Serai MP N. Surendran (PKR), Shah Alam MP and PAS central committee member Khalid Samad, DAP Nationa Vice-Chair and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok (DAP), Batu MP Tian Chua (PKR) and Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer (DAP). PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli was charged with threatening peace for his comments against Umno members while former Perak Menteri Besar and Changkat Jering assemblyman and former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was charged with criminal defamation.
What is the point of promises made Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to repeal the Sedition Act in 2012, which he repeated the promise in July 2013, when he was interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)? The extent of this oppressive law is used to stifle dissent is no different from “carpet-bombing” to the extent that it is now widened to include civil society like prominent law academics with no political affiliation.
If Azmi, as a former Deputy Dean of the UM law faculty – the top law school in Malaysia, can be charged for sedition for giving his academic legal viewpoint, there is no more respect for the rule of law in Malaysia.Where then is there hope for justice for all when even law professors can go to jail for giving their legal and academics viewpoint? Malaysia will become an international laughing stock but the sad tragedy is that 28 million Malaysians will be the real losers by being denied a just and impartial prosecution that ensures only the wrongdoers are charged instead of the innocent.