We, as progressive political parties in both government and opposition worldwide, are deeply concerned about the imprisonment of Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. His case raises internationally worrying questions about the independence of the judiciary and rule of law in Malaysia.
The selective and politically motivated prosecution of members of the opposition has a dramatic detrimental effect on political and social development in Malaysia. We call for fairness, transparency, and the rule of law. Malaysia’s government has to recognize the importance of confidence in its judicial system and has to restore trust in its commitment to human rights.
Likewise we urge the Malaysian government to repeal the Sedition Act 1948, a promise made by its leader in 2012 but now overturned, which systematically suppresses freedom of speech and assembly in the country. This suppression of dissent by the opposition and the Malaysian people in general violates political rights.
We express our full solidarity with the People’s Justice Party, the Democratic Action Party, the family and friends of Mr Anwar Ibrahim, the people of Malaysia, and Mr Anwar himself. We have and will never stand inactive in witness of injustice and violation of human rights.
We will work more closely with our Malaysian alliance partner, the Democratic Action Party, in upholding the truth and delivering equal justice for all. We stand together for the principles of social justice and human rights, towards a more democratic and progressive Malaysia.
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Progressive Alliance is an international network of Political Parties, Civil Society Movements, Non Governmental Organisations who espouses, relates to and identifies with the progressive, democratic, social-democratic, socialist and labour ideological movement. To date, there are more than 120 organisations in the network worldwide, with all five continents represented. The DAP is a member of it’s direction setting function; the Progressive Alliance Board.
** The DAP is a participant of the Progressive Alliance since 2014 – http://progressive-alliance.info/en/