REPEAL OF THE SEDITION ACT IS COMMENDABLE

PRESS STATEMENT

REPEAL OF THE SEDITION ACT IS COMMENDABLE

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (the Commission) welcomes the announcement of the proposed repeal of the Sedition Act 1948, one of the many laws which it has previously called upon the Government to repeal, and hopes that this commendable move will enable a greater enjoyment of the basic human rights to freedom of speech as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution and as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR). 

The Commission appreciates and supports the efforts for democratic reforms and to safeguard human rights and freedom in the country, as promised during the Honourable Prime Minister’s special Malaysia Day address on 15 September 2011. The Government has earlier revoked all Emergency laws, including the Internal Security Act 1960, the Banishment Act 1959 and the Restricted Residence Act 1933, and amended the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, the Police Act 1967 and the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, and enacted the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and Security Offences Act (Special Measures) 2012. Nevertheless, the law reforms efforts have generated some concerns from various sections of the society since they were done swiftly and without much consultation. While the Commission welcomes the proposed replacement law, the National Harmony Act, and notes its intention to provide a balance between guaranteeing the freedom of speech for every citizen and handling the complexity of plurality existing in the country, it hopes that the new Act will be drafted in a transparent manner through consultations with all stakeholders in order to ensure that it will be in line with fundamental human rights principles. 

On that note, the Commission looks forward to engaging with the Attorney General’s Chambers and other stakeholders including civil society groups in the drafting of the new law to address particular concerns and to ensure that the provisions provided under it are consistent with universally accepted human rights principles, thus promoting and protecting human rights in the country. As part of its functions as the national human rights institution, the Commission will continue to monitor the implementation of this and other new laws to ensure that they are in compliance with international human rights principles and norms, more specifically the Universal Declarations of Human Rights 1948 (UDHR).

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“HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL”

TAN SRI HASMY AGAM
Chairman
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)

12 July 2012