Sedition Act: New amendment restricts the freedom of expression - US Embassy

The Embassy of United States in Kuala Lumpur reiterate their concern on the passage amendments of the Malaysia's Sedition Act might limit the freedom of expression in Malaysia.

The embassy's spokesperson, Marie Harf in a statement issued on Wednesday said that the United States welcomed the decision to remove provisions outlawing criticism of the government and the judiciary.

However, it hoped that the Malaysian government would reconsider the recent sedition charges under those now-defunct sections of the law.

READ: Amendments to sedition act to create absolute security - Zahid

"Other aspects of the Sedition Act amendments, however, threaten to restrict unduly speech and public discourse," said Harf in the statement.

"Particularly worrying are new provisions that increase penalties, including for first-time offenders and could make sharing allegedly seditious material on social media a crime," she added.

She said the public debate of ideas can be among the best protections against intolerance and can play a positive role in strengthening democracy and combating hatred.

The first reading to amend the Sedition Act 1948 was made on April 10 by the Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi before the bill was passed early Friday at 2.30am.

The Bill which was listed in the first sequence of the Order Paper and Proposals, includes the act of criticizing the government will no longer be an offence.

In the same amendment, an individual charged under the Act will not be allowed to be released on bail.

Furthermore, the new amendment of section 5(a) of the Bill suggests that if a person is charged under Section 4 (1a) of the Sedition Act and is verified in writing by the public prosecutor, no guarantee can be given to him for the sake of public interests.

Any individual or any group who uses religion as a medium to manipulate or create hate will also be charged under the same bill.

Based on the content of the amendments, the new paragraph in subsection 3(1) Act 15 states that any party which promotes malice, enmity or hatred against a certain party on the grounds of religion is considered as an offense.

The amendment of the Act also includes a new section which is Section 5(b) - to prevent any individual charged under Sedition Act from leaving Malaysia.