Amendments to the Sedition Act passed by the Dewan Rakyat in the wee hours of Friday does not give the government a free ticket to oppress dissenters, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

"One of the clauses clearly states that any criticisms towards the government is no longer in the Sedition Act.

"Only those who raise seditious matters that cause damage to property and bodily harm will be punished," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby right after the bill was passed at 2.30am.

He also denied that the wide definition of sedition will be used against dissenters.

"This is the separation of power between the legislative and the judiciary. It is for the courts to interpret (the definition of sedition) based on the terms under the amended act," he said.

"(The Act was amended) by the government, for the sole purpose of maintaining security, peace, and religious and racial harmony," he added.

'Ambiga has freedom of opinion'

The minister also refused to comment on former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan's ( right ) assertion that Putrajaya was declaring war on all Malaysians by amending the Sedition Act and introducing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota).

"That is her interpretation, I reserve my comment about it. She has a right to say anything, because this is the freedom of opinion," he said.

There has been widespread criticism at home and from abroad against the Sedition Act amendments and detention without trial under Pota.

Amnesty International warned that the developments will bring Malaysia one step closer to becoming a " black hole " for human rights.

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