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Bar Council opposes use of Sedition Act to stifle freedom of speech
The Bar Council notes with alarm the report in today’s New Straits Times
that the Prime Minister has instructed a police report to be lodged against DAP
chairman Karpal Singh.
This move, following the recent charges of sedition against Raja Petra and Syed
Akbar Ali, signals a disturbing trend towards the use of archaic and oppressive
legislation such as the Sedition Act as a means of stifling debate and exchange
of opinions.
Many issues of public and constitutional law including state law and convention
that have hitherto not arisen, have understandably surfaced since the March 8
general elections.
One recent controversy was over the appointment of the Trengganu Menteri Besar,
when many members of the Government and public took strong positions in relation
to the actions of the state’s Regent and its Regency Advisory Council, including
the position that the appointment of the Chief Minister was unconstitutional.
Strong views were similarly expressed in respect of the appointment of the
Perlis Menteri Besar. Likewise the views expressed by Karpal Singh are his
opinion on the legal issues relating to the transfer of the Perak Religious
Department director Datuk Jamry Sury. Using the Sedition Act against him is a
stifling of healthy debate that has in fact already been taking place over the
last few months in other instances.
We would in the circumstances urge that the oppressive Sedition Act not be used
against Karpal Singh or anyone else exercising their constitutional right of
freedom of speech.
Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan
President
Malaysian Bar