PM’s promise on Sedition Act 1948: More and more watered down

In July 2012, Prime Minister Najib Razak made a promise to all Malaysians to abolish the colonial-era Sedition Act 1948.

That was before the 13th General Election in May 2013.

The likes of Perkasa, ISMA, fractions within UMNO and most recently, Wanita UMNO as represented by its chief, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, have all opposed to the Prime Minister’s plan to abolish Sedition Act.

Government’s action opposite of PM’s promise

After the election and after UMNO has been returned to federal power, the firmness of Najib’s promise seems to diminish by the day.

And we can see how Najib is slowly giving way to right wing extremists who seek to maintain this imperialist legislation which was meant to gag the democratic rights of the people, or in the words of progressive UMNO leader, former deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah, “to strike fear in people”. (http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/saifuddin-najib-sincere-in-repealing-sedition-act-hindered-by-those-around)

This year alone, 40 people has been investigated, charged, convicted under the Act, including Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, opposition politicians, academics and one journalist.

In September 2014, the Prime Minister said that there will be four options in regards to the Sedition Act, i.e. 1) amend the Act to accommodate new views, 2) abolish the Act, 3) abolish the Act and replace it with a new National Harmony Act, 4) maintain the Act and enact a new National Harmony Act.

Yesterday, in a written reply to my question in Parliament, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, Nancy Shukri replying on behalf of Najib, continue to reiterate this watered down version of the Prime Minister’s pre-election promise. The government’s reply, among others, said, “only after the consultation process, the government will decide on the direction in regards to Sedition Act 1948”.

It is clear here now that the Prime Minister is letting right wing extremists to set his government’s agenda despite projecting himself as a moderate leader.

Lousy excuses for maintaining the draconian Act

The Prime Minister and the supporters of this draconian Act have all argued that without the law, there will be no law against hate crime and disruption of public order in this country

It is obviously a bad excuse.

Firstly, even with the Sedition Act, prosecution is random with those targetted being overwhelmingly those who oppose the ruling party, UMNO.

Secondly, we have enough laws, including the Penal Code to prosecute against hate crime. For example, sex blogger Alvin and Vivian were charged among others, under s298A of the Penal Code which provide provision against “causing, etc. disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing, etc., the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion”. There are other sections in the Penal Code and other laws which legislate against hate and disruption of public order without the need to resource to the vague and oft-abused Sedition Act.

As such, unless he admits to lying to Malaysians or being cowed by right wing extremists, the Prime Minister:

1. immediately impose a moratorium on the enforcement of Sedition Act 1948, including those currently being investigated under the Act,
2. establish a parliamentary committee to review and consider the proposals of the National Unity Consultative Council in regards to the National Harmony Act,
3. abolish Sedition Act 1948 before the end of this parliamentary sitting.

I call upon the Prime Minister to show his commitment towards his own words and promise to abolish the Sedition Act 1948.

Soalan:

Tuan Sim Chee Keong [ Bukit Mertajam] minta Perdana Menteri menyatakan mengapa janji beliau untuk memansuhkan Akta Hasutan 1948 masih belum terlaksana dan terdapat kenyataan bercanggah daripada ahli Kabinet yang lain.

Jawapan: Puan Hajah Nancy binti Haji Shukri, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri

1. Sebagaimana yang telah diumumkan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri pada 11 Julai 2012, Kerajaan telah membuat keputusan untuk memansuhkan Akta Hasutan 1948 [Akta 15] dan menggantikan dengan suatu undang-undang baru yang dikenali sebagai Akta Keharmonian Nasional. Keputusan untuk menggantikan Akta Hasutan 1948 dibuat bagi mencari mekanisme yang dapat menentukan keseimbangan terbaik antara keperluan menjamin kebebasan bersuara setiap warganegara sebagaimana yang diperuntukkan di dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan, dengan keperluan untuk menangani kompleksiti kemajmukan yang wujud di Malaysia.
2. Sungguhpun begitu, Kerajaan amat prihatin dan mengambil maklum akan pandangan dan maklum balas yang telah diberikan oleh pelbagai pihak berhubung dengan isu pemansuhan ini.
3. Sehubungan dengan itu, YAB Perdana Menteri melalui kenyataan akbar beliau bertarikh 12 September 2014 telah memaklumkan bahawa rundingan yang menyeluruh akan diadakan dengan semua pihak berkepentingan. Selepas proses rundingan tersebut diadakan, barulah Kerajaan akan menentukan hala tuju yang akan diambil berhubung dengan Akta Hasutan 1948.