{
  "id": 4352481,
  "title": "Semak semua undang-undang era penjajah, pra-Merdeka, kata Ramkarpal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/semak-semua-undang-undang-era-penjajah-pra-merdeka-kata-ramkarpal-4352481",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T04:18:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/08/30/semak-semua-undang-undang-era-penjajah-pra-merdeka-kata-ramkarpal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "DAP party leader Ramkarpal Singh has called for a comprehensive review of all laws from the colonial and pre-independent eras to align with the long-term agenda of Pakatan Harapan. The former deputy minister argued that outdated laws, such as the 1948 Internal Security Act (ISA), should be repealed or modernized. The ISA, he claimed, was a restrictive law from the British era and has been criticized for many years for limiting freedom of speech.\n\nThe Bukit Gelugor MP urged a review of other pre-independent laws, including the Declaration Act, the Sedition Act, and the Civil Law Act 1956. According to him, outdated laws need to be repealed or replaced to reflect the present reality, including developments like artificial intelligence. According to the statement from the Prime Minister, it may be time for a comprehensive review of all colonial and pre-independent laws to remove restrictions on student freedom and ensure the true meaning of independence can be fully realized.\n\nOn Saturday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reportedly said that laws restricting student freedom must be abolished to ensure the true meaning of independence can be fully realized. The reality is that independence is not just about being free from physical colonial rule, but also means that the people have the space to determine their nation's future.\n\nSingh explained that this is why the colonial powers needed the ISA. They needed the ISA to suppress dissent because it was in their interests to remain in power as colonial rulers. He said that the current government has the opportunity, almost seven decades after independence, to repeal the ISA in line with the long-term reform agenda of Pakatan Harapan.\n\nHe said that such a review needs to receive bipartisan support as it is in the national interest and will give greater meaning to independence. While the Federal Court can annul or amend pre-independence laws that conflict with the Constitution, this can only happen when a case is brought to court. Without challenging such a thing, he said, the laws will continue to be in force until Parliament repeals or repeals them. He noted that Britain repealed the Internal Security Act in 2009, while Singapore abolished the Internal Security Act in 2021.",
  "summary": "Bekas timbalan menteri undang-undang itu berkata peruntukan lapuk perlu dimansuh atau digantikan bagi mencerminkan realiti semasa.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Semak semua undang-undang era penjajah, pra-Merdeka, kata Ramkarpal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/semak-semua-undang-undang-era-penjajah-pra-merdeka-kata-ramkarpal",
        "published": "2026-08-30T04:18:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}