US vice president worries Sedition Act retained

Astro Awani
December 5, 2014 16:32 MYT

Biden tweeted his concerns over Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's decision to retain and strengthen the Sedition Act. - AFP Photo

US vice president Joseph Biden has criticised the Malaysian government decision to retain the Sedition Act 1948 citing the move aims to insulate the opposition.

Biden views the decision on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy appeal is the main opportunity for Malaysia to ‘rectify the situation to boost confidence on democracy and judiciary system.

The statements were made on his Twitter account and these entries ended with ‘vp’ – an indication that Biden had personally written the Twitter messages himself.

Amid growing U.S.-Malaysia ties, Malaysian govt’s use of legal system & Sedition Act to stifle opposition raises rule of law concerns. -vp
— Vice President Biden (@VP) December 4, 2014

An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal gives Malaysia a vital chance to make things right and promote confidence in its democracy & judiciary. -vp
— Vice President Biden (@VP) December 4, 2014

An error occurred while retrieving the Tweet. It might have been deleted.

Biden’s statement is a reminiscent of former US vice-president, Al Gore against the Malaysian government in 1998 when he cited the nation has turned its back on the administration of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at that time as ‘a courageous person’.

In his speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Kuala Lumpur – two months after Anwar was dismissed as Deputy Prime Minister by the then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Al Gore was quoted as saying that a democratic country is capable to face the wrath of economic crisis compared to another country whose freedom is blocked.

Al Gore then praised the reformation movement around the South East Asia calling for change and boasts the word ‘reformasi’ which inevitably became the anthem of Anwar and his followers.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last week announced that the government will not repeal the Sedition Act instead it will be strengthened and to improve it two special provisions to preserve the sanctity of Islam and all other religions to prosecute those who called for the separation of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia.

Chief Justice, Tun Arifin Zakaria told Bernama on Thursday that his party is unable to give the exact date of Anwar’s appeal as the High Court judges are in the midst of preparing the statement.

The opposition leader has appealed against a sodomy conviction and five-year jail sentence.

#Al Gore #Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria #Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak #Joe Biden #South East Asia #United States