On August 11, Malay daily Utusan Malaysia reported that Rustam Ali, vice president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the ruling party in the Federal government, called for the Bar Council members to be arrested under the ISA, which allows for indefinite detention without trial, while Salahuddin Ayub, the youth chief of the Pan-Malayan Islamic Party (Pas), wanted the Sedition Act used on the organisers. Members from both rival political parties were involved in the protest against the forum, which was held to discuss legal issues arising from a person's conversion to Islam.

 

CIJ and WAMI are deeply concerned by these calls, which we see as reflective of an authoritarian administration that represses the voices and grievances of minority groups. We are also alarmed that PAS has indicated a similar authoritarian streak despite its promise of a more civil governance, which garnered the party much support during the March general election. We call upon Pas, which has always opposed ISA, to reiterate its commitment to democracy, human rights and open governance in its coming Muktamar.

 

The calls for the use of the ISA and Sedition Act to clamp down open discussion on the constitution, family law and religious administration reflect the desire to perpetuate communalism. It is exactly the prohibition of and obstruction to Malaysians discussing issues of grave concern in a civil manner that has prevented Malaysia to mature politically as a people and made our independence hollow.

 

CIJ and WAMI call on the BN and PAS leaders to retract their extreme calls for the use of the ISA and Sedition Act. Both laws should be done away with, for they are a deterrent to freedom of expression and are open to abuse.

 

Ends

 

Issued by

Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)

 

and

 

Wong Chin Huat

Chairperson

Writers' Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI)

 

For more information please contact Wai Fong at 03 40230772