globalvoices: Malaysian social and alternative media is describing an impending ‘National Harmony Act’ as “Orwellian” and “draconian.” Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that Malaysia’s Sedition Act of 1948 is to be repealed, and replaced with the National Harmony Act (NHA.) The Sedition Act, a hangover from Malaysia’s era of colonial rule, was originally introduced to quell opposition against the British, but is infamous for its vague definitions and use by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to silence political opposition. Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, a minister in the Prime Minister’s department, stated that unlike the to-be-repealed Sedition Act, the NHA will allow for criticism of the Malaysian government: “There should be no absolute freedom to the extent we can call people pariah, pimps and so on. It is obvious we want to protect the Institution of the Malay Rulers. They are above politics and this country practises Constitutional Monarchy.” Read more here: http://bit.ly/NXrcJV

globalvoices:

Malaysian social and alternative media is describing an impending ‘National Harmony Act’ as “Orwellian” and “draconian.”

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that Malaysia’s Sedition Act of 1948 is to be repealed, and replaced with the National Harmony Act (NHA.)

The Sedition Act, a hangover from Malaysia’s era of colonial rule, was originally introduced to quell opposition against the British, but is infamous for its vague definitions and use by the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to silence political opposition.

Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, a minister in the Prime Minister’s department, stated that unlike the to-be-repealed Sedition Act, the NHA will allow for criticism of the Malaysian government:

“There should be no absolute freedom to the extent we can call people pariah, pimps and so on. It is obvious we want to protect the Institution of the Malay Rulers. They are above politics and this country practises Constitutional Monarchy.”

Read more here: http://bit.ly/NXrcJV

Source: bit.ly
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