The courts must define the scope of Section 124B to determine what actually can be considered a threat to parliamentary democracy, said a DAP lawmaker today.

"Section 124B is very wide in its ambit. It speaks about any activity direct or indirect that threatens parliamentary democracy.

"I think this can be used very largely and even abused," Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said.

He added the attorney-general should also study the definition of the section so it can't be used indiscriminately

He was speaking to reporters after the Kuala Lumpur High Court reduced the remand periods for activists Adam Adli Abdul Halim ( photo ), and Shukri Abdul Razab before ordering their release.

Adam and Shukri were detained under Section 124B over a press conference announcing last Saturday's #TangkapNajib rally.

"This is one example where the definition of this section is stretched a bit too far," Gobind said.

Section 124B punishes activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy with up to 20 years in jail.

Gobind said it had not been used until last month and he feared that more people would be hauled up under the act unless its scope is properly defined.

"When we debated this in Parliament, it was quite clear that Section 124 was intended to protect MPs [...] enhance parliamentary democracy.

"But now it is being used in cases where conspiracy to depose a sitting prime minister is alleged, and so forth. I'm not sure that is what Section 124 is about," he mused.

The DAP legal bureau chief said the party will be organising a forum on Section 124 next Thursday at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall.

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