Translate
09 June 2018
Suhakam chairman Razali Ismail reminds the police that the Pakatan Harapan government has promised to abolish oppressive laws like the Sedition Act.
Suhakam questions sedition probe on Kadir, Hishamuddin
Bernama | June 8, 2018
The commission’s chairman Razali Ismail reminds the police that the Pakatan Harapan government has promised to abolish oppressive laws like the Sedition Act.
Suhakam chairman Razali Ismail says no issue should be sacrosanct in the context of our democratisation. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has questioned a decision to investigate veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin and social activist Hishamuddin Rais under the Sedition Act 1948 for their recent writings.
In a statement, Suhakam chairman Razali Ismail said the human rights body reminded the authorities that the current government had promised to revoke the many oppressive laws of the previous government which included the Sedition Act 1948.
“In this regard, the authorities must refrain from using such laws as a means of stifling public debate and right to information,” he said.
“Malaysians must have the right to know and question how government money is spent in the pursuit of transparency and accountability.”
No issue should be sacrosanct in the context of our democratisation, Razali said.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohamad Fuzi Harun confirmed that Kadir was being probed under the Sedition Act and for defamation over a blog post claiming that some RM256.9 million was spent for the upkeep and personal expenditure of Sultan Muhammad V in the 16 months since he became the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Hishamuddin was summoned to the Sri Petaling police station here today to have his statement recorded over an alleged seditious article on his blog.
Meanwhile, former editor-in-chief of Utusan Malaysia Johan Jaafar said he felt disturbed by the statement made by Fuzi that Kadir, who is also PPBM Supreme Council member, would be investigated under the Sedition Act.
“There are many other laws that can be applied to charge Kadir, if need be, but to investigate or charge him under the Sedition Act is totally against the spirit of today’s Malaysia,” he said.
“Kadir probably got his numbers wrong or made remarks deemed ‘disparaging’ by some people, in his blog posting. But he must be given the chance to prove his facts and must be held responsible for his statement,” Johan said.
“The fact remains that we are living in a different Malaysia today. No citizen must be threatened and intimidated by laws meant to silence those who wish to speak up,” he said.
Describing the IGP’s statement as further warranting the need for such an archaic, repressive and draconian Sedition Act to be abolished, Johan said: “The police must take into account the reform agenda of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to review or abolish laws and provisions under certain laws that are against the spirit of free speech and new openness.”
“It is ironic that Kadir, being a member of a party of the ruling coalition that went to the polls promising to abolish such laws, is to be investigated under the Sedition Act,” he said.
Lawyers for Liberty co-founder Latheefa Koya had called on the IGP to stop “unnecessary” investigations against Kadir under laws that were pending repeal by the PH government.
“The Barisan Nasional (BN)-era-like prosecutions should stop under the new government. The IGP must realise that Malaysia is no longer governed by the oppressive BN regime which had previously persecuted the people for merely exercising their right to free speech.
“Whoever is affected by Kadir’s article should respond in a civilised manner and not resort to lodging police reports.
“It is also possible for these parties to file civil defamation suits but there is certainly nothing criminal in what he had written,” she said, adding that the IGP must act consistent with the reform agenda of the new government and not fall back into the BN way of governance.
Popular Posts - Last 7 days
-
Dua buah helikopter milik Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) dilaporkan terhempas ketika menjalani raptai di Kem Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysi...
-
TLDM tragedy: Nation mourns worst helicopter crash Bernama 24/04/2024 TLDM tragedy: Nation mourns worst helicopter crash Two helicopters c...
-
PM nafi kerajaan beri lesen kasino di Forest City Bernama 25/04/2024 PM nafi kerajaan beri lesen kasino di Forest City Perdana Menteri ...
-
Former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) last night, after reportedly experienci...
-
Police arrested two individuals from a welfare home after a complaint of an elderly man being beatenThe police arrested two individuals including the owner of an elderly welfare home here following a complaint of an elderly man being beaten...
-
Dua helikopter TLDM bertembung semasa Latihan Lintas Hormat Sambutan Hari Ulang Tahun TLDM Ke-90. Pesawat HOM (M503-3) yang membawa tujuh or...
-
KL20 Summit 2024 to attract high-quality investments - PM Bernama 22/04/2024 PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the summit marks a comprehens...
Popular Posts - Last 30 days
-
Saudi says application for 1444 H umrah visa opens from today Bernama Julai 14, 2022 The Ministry of Haj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia has ann...
-
Following is BEST FBKL's selection of The Top Ramadan 2024 Buka Puasa Buffet's in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. We hope that y...
-
King presents appointment letters to four new envoys Bernama Julai 12, 2022 His Majesty presenting the letter of appointment to M'sian...
-
Wan Saiful confirms he is no longer PTPTN chairman Bernama Julai 12, 2022 Bersatu Information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan today confirm...
-
Naz Empire's defamation lawsuit against Awal Ashaari to go to trial as mediation fails Bernama Julai 12, 2022 The defamation lawsuit f...
-
‘Alas pintu’ dengan gambar Kaabah sebenarnya sejadah mini - AEON BiG April 13, 2024 Susulan penularan gambar yang mendakwa penjualan ‘alas ...
-
Screenshot of a video shared by the public of the incident at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Arrival Hall 1 on Sunday. SEPANG...
-
Kedah MB: ECK no longer part of Kulim airport project Bernama Julai 13, 2022 Muhammad Sanusi announced that the ECK Group of Companies (EC...
-
MAN DIES AS HIS BMW I7 CRASHES AND BURNS, WOMAN FRIEND SERIOUSLY INJURED A man died while his woman friend was seriously injured when the ca...
-
Seven million Malaysians yet to take booster dose against COVID-19 - PM Bernama Julai 11, 2022 Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaako...
Blog Archive
-
►
2023
(3771)
- December (311)
- November (322)
- October (286)
- September (288)
- August (365)
- July (349)
- June (372)
- May (316)
- April (279)
- March (301)
- February (245)
- January (337)
-
►
2022
(4309)
- December (352)
- November (422)
- October (288)
- September (281)
- August (347)
- July (303)
- June (335)
- May (406)
- April (341)
- March (371)
- February (390)
- January (473)
-
►
2021
(9030)
- December (636)
- November (647)
- October (809)
- September (797)
- August (880)
- July (894)
- June (747)
- May (780)
- April (580)
- March (629)
- February (643)
- January (988)
-
►
2020
(6800)
- December (819)
- November (698)
- October (832)
- September (729)
- August (548)
- July (558)
- June (615)
- May (394)
- April (368)
- March (453)
- February (439)
- January (347)
-
►
2019
(4089)
- December (411)
- November (425)
- October (375)
- September (279)
- August (397)
- July (353)
- June (326)
- May (315)
- April (266)
- March (318)
- February (293)
- January (331)
-
▼
2018
(4100)
- December (305)
- November (304)
- October (357)
- September (352)
- August (420)
- July (442)
- June (366)
- May (412)
- April (343)
- March (275)
- February (233)
- January (291)
-
►
2017
(3888)
- December (268)
- November (293)
- October (352)
- September (309)
- August (356)
- July (300)
- June (319)
- May (354)
- April (316)
- March (335)
- February (306)
- January (380)
-
►
2016
(4563)
- December (331)
- November (328)
- October (378)
- September (415)
- August (404)
- July (380)
- June (310)
- May (370)
- April (430)
- March (484)
- February (355)
- January (378)
-
►
2015
(4588)
- December (402)
- November (392)
- October (393)
- September (375)
- August (450)
- July (392)
- June (456)
- May (407)
- April (408)
- March (374)
- February (262)
- January (277)