I welcome the announcement by the AG that he will review sedition charges against law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom and others.
I am of the view that the charge against Dr Azmi borders on absurdity in that he is accused of committing sedition in advancing an argument advocating openness and transparency in the legal handling of the current Selangor Menteri Besar dispute.
Such a charge does little if nothing to assist in our hope to build a nation which promotes healthy discussion, in particular amongst academicians, especially in times of legal uncertainties such as that of the current matter at hand.
There is no doubt that the AG has the sole discretion and power to prefer charges as he deems fit, but such powers are discretionary and must be exercised having regard to the broader circumstances applicable to any particular instance calling for its application.
The AG should consider the impact this charge would have on freedom of expression in particular on academicians. He should take into account rights to express professional opinion on matters of public importance and that what was said in this case cannot by any stretch of the imagination be taken to be seditious.
I hope that reason will prevail and the charges against Dr Azmi Sharom will be dropped. That would certainly be a step in the right direction and would, to my mind, augur well for the AG himself as public prosecutor.
I also call upon the AG to reconsider all cases in which persons have been charged under this Act. I will address them individually and at separate forums hereafter.