Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Malaysia's Sedition Act - A Repressive Law

Someone has been threatening Sarawak Headhunter through the Comments section of this blog with arrest for sedition, presumably under the Malaysian Sedition Act and even under the ISA ("Internal Security Act"), both repressive laws normally resorted to by a government which has lost its legitimate right to govern.

This is not medicine which Sarawak Headhunter can be forced to swallow.

Sarawak Headhunter is as stubborn as RPK and will not bow to such threats. There is a limit to which human rights may be violated and we must never allow any government to ride rough-shod over its people under the guise of implementing such repressive laws.

It is the people who decide what their government is, not the government that decides what to do to the people. Governments cannot play God with their people. If they think that by doing so they can subdue the truth, they are sadly mistaken.

Any government which ignores this deserves to be overthrown and will be overthrown, preferably at the ballot.

The following is an extract from the
Human Rights Watch website under the topic "Repressive Laws" (of Malaysia):

"The Sedition Act

The Sedition Act, originally enacted by British colonial authorities, limits free expression by broadly criminalizing any speech that is judged to have a "seditious tendency," including speech which tends to "bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against" the government, promote "feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races," or question constitutional preferences in business, education, and government employment opportunities given to Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. The speaker's intent and the statements' veracity are irrelevant. A violation of the act is punishable by up to three years in prison, a 5,000 ringgit fine (about U.S. $1,315), or both. The act's vague language invites selective application against political opponents for any kind of criticism. Indeed, it was used in January 2000, shortly after the national elections, against opposition figures who criticized the government. Such expression is a basic right guaranteed by internationally recognized human rights standards. In addition, although numerous police reports alleging acts of sedition were filed against ruling party officials and allies during the same period, only opposition figures were arrested. Human Rights Watch calls on the Malaysian government to ensure that the law is not used for politically motivated proceedings against activists, attorneys, journalists, and opposition leaders. Those who peacefully express critical views should not be subject to arrest."

Sarawak Headhunter cannot put it quite as well as the master himself:

Image

It is clear that the Sedition Act can solve all our problems. The Sedition Act, properly and seriously implemented, would result in the entire world sharing just one religion. There would not be so many religions, which, today, are the source of most of the world’s problems.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

There is an old law which many Malaysians do not realise still exists in this country. This law is called the Sedition Act. How old is this law, you may ask. Trust me, it is very, very old.

The Sedition Act was already around 3,000 or 3,500 years ago during the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs. At that time a man called Musa -- namesake of Musa Hitam, Musa Aman and Musa Hassan; who are all the exact opposite of the Musa of old Egypt -- received a message from God. And the message is that the Pharaoh is not God, as he believed he was, and Musa was to go tell him so.

Of course Musa was scared because he was aware of the Sedition Act and anyone who disputes that the Ruler of Egypt is God will be dealt with severely. So Musa asked God for permission to bring his brother along since his brother had the gift of the gab and was able to ‘spin’ just like the Bloggers of modern days. Knowing that a lot of spinning would be required to counter Pharaoh’s claim of divinity, God agreed and Musa and his brother then went and confronted the Pharaoh.

The Pharaoh asked Musa what are the credentials to become God. Musa then replied that God gives life and God takes life. The Pharaoh then sentenced Musa to death thereby ‘taking his life’. The Pharaoh then commuted the death sentence thereby ‘giving back’ Musa his life.

“So I have just taken life and given life,” argued the Pharaoh. “That means I am God.”

See the rest at Malaysia-Today.

21 comments:

Unknown said...

"We've always felt that the Sedition Act is not the way to go as it's a broadly worded act. I think what Syed Azidi was trying to do was to send a message that things are topsy-turvy in the country and that this clearly a case of overreacting on the part of the authorities," Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia director V Gayathry said in a phone interview.
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oliviaharis
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Anonymous said...

The sedition act is used to punish those who tells the truth. Are they suggesting that we all live within lies, through lies, around lies, between lies and tell nothing but the lies?

Edith said...

The sedition act is a big joke if you ask me. It would be April Fools every single day throughout the year.

Victoire said...

If you did nothing wrong, you would have nothing to hide. The sedition act is an foolish tactic to draw attention to your crimes. The people aint blind.

Karma said...

Why is the Sabah CM name is included in RPK post I wonder?

Anyway, the truth will surface no matter how many lies were told.

Reservoire said...

Why is Musa Aman name is included in this MT articles?

Moral of the story? Never lie because the truth will eventually comes out

Lex said...

If there is no sedition act, they are afraid that The Royal family would be brought down like how Muammar al-Gaddafi abolished the monarch and proclaim the new Libyan Arab Republic. Of course they couldn't have that. King Henry VIII had his absolute power for the very same reason, he also established himself as Supreme head of the church (During the Renaissance, the Church is everything) so that no one can go against him or bring him down.

Tuty said...

huhu... I'm wonder why Musa Aman name is included in this article???

Coca said...

The Sedition Act is good if its doesn't misused by some parties...
So just think positively, relax & have a nice day:)

Bodhi said...

wei... why the sabah CM included in this post?
hmm.. whatever it is I believe that Musa do the right things:)

Edward said...

Agreed with Karma...
"the truth will surface no matter how many lies were told"
hehehehe :P

Ellelli said...

Everyone is telling lies everyday and how do tell if he's telling lies or not?Even the law itself can't prove your level of lies or whatsoever.But,the main thing is that,why CM is been dragged to this case?What lies he have been telling?

zeno said...

Lies,lies and lies.The truth will prevail soon,so dont fill up yourself with anxiety.

Dyeilyla said...

hahaha read the article again n again....musa aman name only write once....and it is bcoz of same name with that Musa of old Egypt... hahaha it is just an example la...... there is nothing to speak up on CM la...... aduiiii...... Sensitive sangat la....

Lisa said...

hmmm... tipu la apapun.... suatu hari nanti kebenaran pasti terbongkar... hehehehee

Olivia said...

pengajarannya, jangan cuba buat penipuan nanti diri sendiri yang kantoi... hehehehe

Azlan said...

Hai Dyeilyla:)
For you it's quite funny...

But for me I wonder why is Musa Aman name is included in this article....

Even if it's just for example; I still don't think his name should be included...
hehehhee

Asmawati said...

Sedition Act????
hmmm... Whateverlah...
makin difikir makin pening saja...
Paling penting jalan harus ikut arah yg betul supaya tak memakan diri... hehehheee

much said...

Don't be over depressive over the matte

Mohd Ishak said...

Kebenaran pasti akan muncul. Berani kerana Benar.

Anonymous said...

akta hasutan perlu dikekalkan