Gov’t doing a balancing act with Sedition Act?
YoursayPublished: Jun 20, 2014 2:37 AM | Updated: Jun 20, 2014 2:41 AM
YOURSAY ‘Now I know why DAP leader RSN Rayer is to be charged.’
Isma chief to face sedition charge tomorrow
Ipohcrite: It's ironical that one who is so supportive of the Sedition Act is now charged under it.
Personally, I don't support having the Sedition Act, but if ever its retention could be justified, it would probably be to use it to rein in bigots like Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman and his ilk who are hell-bent on flaming racial and divisive sentiments amongst Malaysians.
Apa Nama: Hello Malaysian government, you cannot fool the citizens by prosecuting RNS Rayer and Abdullah Zaik under an outdated law, Sedition Act, to show that you are being fair.
This is sheer stupidity and insulting our intelligence. There are other Acts that you should use for these two persons rather than using a quick-fix Sedition Act.
Shame on you, still using the British-era Act. Where is your originality? After 57 years of independence, we are still using a 66-year-old Act. The world is laughing at us.
Wira: Now I know why YB Rayer is to be charged.
They cannot charge Perkasa and Isma leaders if they don't balance their act by charging someone from the other side even though that know any judge will throw out the case based on immunity granted to MPs and Aduns (state assemblypersons) for words uttered in the legislature while it is in session.
Good move, attorney-general. You probably saved your house from a coat of fresh red paint.
Fair Play: Wira, I agree with you. Both cases (Rayer and Abdullah Zaik) are tied together to show that the powers-that-be mean business.
To the ordinary rakyat, however, the two cases are like night and day.
Rayer's comment was specific to certain individuals and spoken during a state assembly in session while Abdullah Zaik's statement was targeted at the entire Chinese Malaysian community.
It would be interesting to see how it plays out eventually.
Magnus: It looks like the AG is continuing to suffer from his self-inflicted selective legal myopia that now allows him to see the microbial minutiae across the seas but not the white elephant standing right under the nose of his constitutional oversight.
Perhaps he should consult (eye doctor) Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail?
Proarte: This is a ‘sandiwara’ (shadow play). Abdullah Zaik of Isma is paid to be a fall guy. The real purpose is to justify charging opposition politicians for sedition and to silence them.
Oriole: Is anyone holding their breath over this? This is another charade to convince the gullible that there is a functioning justice system in this country.
Anonymous #59879079: Getting charged is one thing. Getting convicted is another. As most will believe, this is just a show to give the impression that Umno is fair. Far from it.
Isma chief slapped with sedition charge
Naatamai: What we are seeing is quick fixes to justify similar action against others.
What we need are long-term solutions to ensure all races are respected and the poor are aided regardless of race. This is not too much to ask of a government, is it?
Mr KJ John: I agree with former Bersih chief S Ambiga that what Abdullah Zaik said is both wrong and mischievous but really not sedition.
Sorry AG, this is again wrong to use the outdated sedition law to kill anyone. And, yes, why not Perkasa goons or Jati leader Hasan Ali?
Arif: Can Isma explain whether Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Najib Razak, Mohamad Khir Toyo and many more fall in the same line with intruders and ‘pendatang’ as per Isma's understanding of history?
Bury Lynas: If you want to talk rubbish you must at least study some history. The real intruders are the Japanese, English, Dutch, Portuguese, etc, to name a few.
And do you know Indonesia also intruded Malaysia during Sukarno time? Why not condemn the Indonesians too? Or perhaps you are from Indonesia yourself.
Ambiga frowns on Isma sedition charge
Proarte: Any fair person would agree that to incite racial hatred and to threaten a repeat of May 13 is a damnable or 'celaka' thing to do. This is what a mob displaying a banner with those offensive threats did.
Rayer directed his 'celaka' remark at Umno because it was the Umno MP Reezal Merican who was addressing and riling up the aggressive mob. No reasonable person would ever equate uttering the word 'celaka' with that of threatening violence or death.
A lot worse without justification has been uttered by Umno leaders in the state assemblies and Parliament. More importantly, Umno has lost its moral authority to govern Malaysia as it is not following the constitution which is the supreme law of the land.
Representatives have immunity for words uttered in Parliament or the State Assembly. Once the AG charges a people’s representative for comments made in a state assembly, then we know it is mala fide because it is undermining the very foundations of democracy.
Anonymous_4020: I absolutely agree with Ambiga, by charging Isma, Umno leaders can make themselves look good and claim they are fair.
Umno’s real motive in not repealing Sedition Act is to use such a draconian act to prosecute opposition leaders with sedition and to disqualify them. Do not fall into this trap set by Umno.
Sleepy: I agree with Ambiga and other lawyers that sedition curbs freedom of speech. To quote the article - "anything and everything can be interpreted as seditious" because the "legislation is absurd and vague".
Initially, like many others, I was upset with Isma. Now I just ignore them. Isma to me is not worthy of my attention or to put it in another way the freedom to choose is mine.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
Isma chief to face sedition charge tomorrow
Ipohcrite: It's ironical that one who is so supportive of the Sedition Act is now charged under it.Personally, I don't support having the Sedition Act, but if ever its retention could be justified, it would probably be to use it to rein in bigots like Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman and his ilk who are hell-bent on flaming racial and divisive sentiments amongst Malaysians.
Apa Nama: Hello Malaysian government, you cannot fool the citizens by prosecuting RNS Rayer and Abdullah Zaik under an outdated law, Sedition Act, to show that you are being fair.
This is sheer stupidity and insulting our intelligence. There are other Acts that you should use for these two persons rather than using a quick-fix Sedition Act.
Shame on you, still using the British-era Act. Where is your originality? After 57 years of independence, we are still using a 66-year-old Act. The world is laughing at us.
Wira: Now I know why YB Rayer is to be charged.
They cannot charge Perkasa and Isma leaders if they don't balance their act by charging someone from the other side even though that know any judge will throw out the case based on immunity granted to MPs and Aduns (state assemblypersons) for words uttered in the legislature while it is in session.
Good move, attorney-general. You probably saved your house from a coat of fresh red paint.
Fair Play: Wira, I agree with you. Both cases (Rayer and Abdullah Zaik) are tied together to show that the powers-that-be mean business.
To the ordinary rakyat, however, the two cases are like night and day.
Rayer's comment was specific to certain individuals and spoken during a state assembly in session while Abdullah Zaik's statement was targeted at the entire Chinese Malaysian community.
It would be interesting to see how it plays out eventually.
Magnus: It looks like the AG is continuing to suffer from his self-inflicted selective legal myopia that now allows him to see the microbial minutiae across the seas but not the white elephant standing right under the nose of his constitutional oversight.
Perhaps he should consult (eye doctor) Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail?
Proarte: This is a ‘sandiwara’ (shadow play). Abdullah Zaik of Isma is paid to be a fall guy. The real purpose is to justify charging opposition politicians for sedition and to silence them.
Oriole: Is anyone holding their breath over this? This is another charade to convince the gullible that there is a functioning justice system in this country.
Anonymous #59879079: Getting charged is one thing. Getting convicted is another. As most will believe, this is just a show to give the impression that Umno is fair. Far from it.
Isma chief slapped with sedition charge
Naatamai: What we are seeing is quick fixes to justify similar action against others.
What we need are long-term solutions to ensure all races are respected and the poor are aided regardless of race. This is not too much to ask of a government, is it?
Mr KJ John: I agree with former Bersih chief S Ambiga that what Abdullah Zaik said is both wrong and mischievous but really not sedition.
Sorry AG, this is again wrong to use the outdated sedition law to kill anyone. And, yes, why not Perkasa goons or Jati leader Hasan Ali?
Arif: Can Isma explain whether Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Najib Razak, Mohamad Khir Toyo and many more fall in the same line with intruders and ‘pendatang’ as per Isma's understanding of history?
Bury Lynas: If you want to talk rubbish you must at least study some history. The real intruders are the Japanese, English, Dutch, Portuguese, etc, to name a few.
And do you know Indonesia also intruded Malaysia during Sukarno time? Why not condemn the Indonesians too? Or perhaps you are from Indonesia yourself.
Ambiga frowns on Isma sedition charge
Proarte: Any fair person would agree that to incite racial hatred and to threaten a repeat of May 13 is a damnable or 'celaka' thing to do. This is what a mob displaying a banner with those offensive threats did.
Rayer directed his 'celaka' remark at Umno because it was the Umno MP Reezal Merican who was addressing and riling up the aggressive mob. No reasonable person would ever equate uttering the word 'celaka' with that of threatening violence or death.
A lot worse without justification has been uttered by Umno leaders in the state assemblies and Parliament. More importantly, Umno has lost its moral authority to govern Malaysia as it is not following the constitution which is the supreme law of the land.
Representatives have immunity for words uttered in Parliament or the State Assembly. Once the AG charges a people’s representative for comments made in a state assembly, then we know it is mala fide because it is undermining the very foundations of democracy.
Anonymous_4020: I absolutely agree with Ambiga, by charging Isma, Umno leaders can make themselves look good and claim they are fair.
Umno’s real motive in not repealing Sedition Act is to use such a draconian act to prosecute opposition leaders with sedition and to disqualify them. Do not fall into this trap set by Umno.
Sleepy: I agree with Ambiga and other lawyers that sedition curbs freedom of speech. To quote the article - "anything and everything can be interpreted as seditious" because the "legislation is absurd and vague".
Initially, like many others, I was upset with Isma. Now I just ignore them. Isma to me is not worthy of my attention or to put it in another way the freedom to choose is mine.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
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