Abolish ‘Colonial-era’ Sedition Act - Ramkarpal
THE government has been urged to abolish the Sedition Act 1948, which Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh described as an outdated colonial-era law that no longer has a place in Malaysia. Ramkarpal said the Act was among several colonial-era laws that s...
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has called for the complete abolition of the Sedition Act 1948, branding it an outdated colonial-era law that hinders freedom of speech in Malaysia. The MP, who has consistently argued for its repeal, cited recent Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's call for the removal of colonial-era laws inherited by the nation.
Ramkarpal highlighted that the Act continues to be criticized for its impact on freedom of expression and its misuse in politically motivated cases. He pointed out that the Act's application is based solely on the statement's alleged seditious nature, disregarding the author's genuine intent. The MP emphasized that nearly seven decades after independence, the government now has the chance to conduct a thorough reform by scrapping the Act entirely.
Additionally, Ramkarpal proposed a review of other colonial-era and pre-independence laws, such as the Evidence Act, Penal Code, and Civil Law Act 1956, urging the elimination of obsolete provisions that no longer align with contemporary Malaysia, especially considering the rise of artificial intelligence. He noted that the Federal Constitution allows the Federal Court to overturn pre-independence laws that conflict with the Constitution, but only if initiated by an individual, making it essential for the government to take the lead in such a reform.
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