Sedition Act: It was no surprise - Rafizi Ramli

PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said the announcement that the Sedition Act 1948 will be retained and strengthened was expected and came as no surprise.

“It is disappointing although expected," he told Astro AWANI when contacted and accused UMNO of resorting to use the Act when facing criticisms and dissent.

He said it was also disappointing that instead of focusing on more pressing matters like economy and rising costs, the government was more interested in race and religion, hence the strengthening of the Act.

Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen when contacted expressed fear that the retaining of the Act will be open to abuse and double standards.

"It might be misused like the ISA to target opposition and dissent and create a climate of fear," he said.

In his policy speech at the 68th UMNO general assembly, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Nazak who announced that the Act will be retained, said the decision was taken after consulting various parties.

He stressed that the Act is necessary to protect the sanctity of all religions.

He said the Act will also be used against those who called for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia.

Yesterday, UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had called on the Sedition Act to be retained, adding that the Act would serve as a protection to all races in the country.

“Umno Youth urges that no matter what happens to the Sedition Act, with whatever new name that it assumes, we want the powers vested in this law to be retained in some ways as a shield for all. Without it to protect us, the nation would be in ruins,” Khairy said in his speech at the party’s AGM yesterday.