KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat saw heated exchanges when Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was questioned about the possible review of the Sedition Act, which was previously labeled as draconian by Pakatan Harapan.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) asked the Ministry if they would review the Act.
“The Sedition Act will be completely abolished. This was your previous stance. As legal practitioners, we can see the loopholes in the Sedition Act that the government could exploit, especially against those who dissent against its interests,” he asked in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 11).
“Your friends had previously referred to this archaic act as the law of the jungle and draconian. Many, including Damansara (Gobind Singh Deo), can attest to this.
“So now that you are the government, and to be fair, do you intend to review this Act to ensure it is not misused by enforcement authorities?” asked the opposition chief whip.
Saifuddin then reminded Takiyuddin that they both had the same stance as political allies in Pakatan Rakyat Barisan Alternative.
“We had it in our manifestos, we wrote the same sentence to abolish the Sedition Act,” he said.
He then asked Takiyuddin if he had attempted to abolish the Sedition Act during his time as Perikatan Nasional’s Law Minister.
Takiyuddin responded that Perikatan had the intention to do so.
“We intended to, but we did not have the opportunity to do so due to the change in government,” he said, clarifying that it was not under the jurisdiction of the law minister.
Saifuddin stated that the ruling government also shares the same intention.
“We also have the intention,” said Saifuddin.
Takiyuddin declared that the Opposition will abolish the Act once it comes into power. Saifuddin indicated that he will ask the same question when Perikatan becomes the government.
Takiyuddin questioned whether statements made by a Pakatan leader regarding race, religion, and royalty (3R) can be considered dangerous and seditious. He also inquired if there are double standards applied in charging certain individuals.
Saifuddin responded by stating that the investigation papers concerning the Pakatan leader have been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Chambers on July 7.
