Adam Adli vows to continue fighting against Sedition Act

Former student activist Adam Adli said he will continue to push for the repeal of the Sedition Act 1948.

The 25-year-old was found guilty of sedition by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court earlier today and was sentenced to a year’s jail.

“What happened today gives me another reason to continue my fight. These twelve months in prison proves that the Sedition Act is used to punish anyone with difference in opinion.”

“The #mansuhaktahasutan campaign will carry on. We will also press for the release of others charged, detained and held under the Sedition Act,” he told reporters after his hearing today.

Adam, who appeared calm throughout the hearing said he is worried that the act will be further used as an abuse against the people.

“Before this, it was used against activists and political enemies. Now, it is even used on the public. I am confident that one day, concerned Malaysians will come together to push for the repeal of this act.”

“The jail time is nothing in comparison to the fear that we are heading to an uncertain place,” he said.

His lawyers, Latheefa Koya and N. Surendran had pleaded for a lighter sentence from judge Mat Ghani Abdullah, calling for only a fine to be imposed instead of a prison sentence.

“This is not fair. We will wait for the judge to release his basis for the conviction. Today, he just read out the fact that Adam was guilty of sedition," said Latheefa.

Adam's lawyers said they will put up a notice of appeal. They have a month from the decision to do so.

Adam was charged for seditious speech in a talk where he instigated the society to rise and overthrow the ruling government who were lawfully elected by unlawful means.

He was found to have committed the offense at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall on 13 May.

The accused was charged under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948 (Act 15).