The global Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has expressed concern over persecution of Malaysian parliamentarians under the Sedition Act, and has resolved to monitor the progress of their cases.

"IPU members were reminded of the human rights abuses of MPs the world over," said the union - in which Malaysia is a member - in a statement today, citing Malaysia as among these countries.

The cases of five Malaysian MPs were discussed at the organisation's committee on the human rights of parliamentarians, which met during the 131st IPU assembly in Geneva today.

They were N Surendran (Padang Serai), Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Khalid Samad (Shah Alam), Rafizi Ramli (Pandan) and Tian Chua (Batu).

The committee's resolutions make several recommendations, among which is to "monitor closely the ongoing legal proceedings" and to seek "further details on the precise facts that have led to the charges and the investigations".

While it noted the Malaysian delegation's explanations on why the government needed to use the Act, which the latter informed was under review with the possibility of a replacement with the Harmony Bill, the committee said the criminal proceedings still warranted concern.

"(The committee) is concerned about the ongoing criminal proceedings under the Sedition Act against the five parliamentarians and their impact on the right to freedom of expression, respect for which is essential for members of parliament to effectively carry out their functions," the resolution says.

It cited former Gelugor MP the late Karpal Singh's conviction as having "the effect of punishing remarks that seem to fall squarely within the exercise of the right to freedom of expression".

The committee welcomed an invitation by the Malaysian delegation for a visit to Malaysia to study the matter in detail, and requested the IPU secretary-general "to make the necessary arrangements for the visit to take place in the near future".


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