Revocation of Act should be done quickly, says Suaram

PETALING JAYA: The government should start taking urgent steps to repeal the Sedition Act, says Suaram.

“It is time for Pakatan Harapan to stop passing its responsibilities and act on the matter,” said its executive director Sevan Doraisamy.

“Since the transition of power on May 9, Suaram and other civil societies have consistently called for and advocated for a moratorium on draconian laws that continue to repress everyday Malaysians.

“The key reasoning was that legal reform is a lengthy process that could potentially take months, if not years, before it can be fully implemented and internalised,” he said in a statement.

Suaram was responding to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying that the government would not set any time frame to repeal the Sedition Act.

Sevan added that the Act is a colonial heritage that has restricted freedom of expression and continues to harass human rights defenders and political activists.

Besides Suaram, other groups that had voiced their support to repeal the Act included Bersih 2.0, Sisters in Islam, Tenaganita, Sinar Project and the Women’s Aid Organisation.

“The position or lack of position by the Pakatan administration is now untenable and a mockery to the aspiration for change held by all Malaysians,” Sevan said.