The Sedition Act should be discontinued until Parliament passes a new law with adequate protection for freedom of speech, Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) secretary-general Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria said.
Published: Wednesday October 8, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday October 8, 2014 MYT 8:25:41 AM
PETALING JAYA: The Sedition Act should be discontinued until Parliament passes a new law with adequate protection for freedom of speech, Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) secretary-general Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria said.
He urged the Government to reveal its plan to replace the Sedition Act with the promised Harmony Act at a dialogue session with the Bar Council and other human rights organisations.
“Peaceful public expression is a fundamental human right. This provides a democratic avenue of expression whereby citizens display their unhappiness through constructive public display,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Denison said it was important for the Government to release the Human Rights Action Plan which Malaysia made at the Universal Periodic Review during discussions with the Geneva Human Rights Council.
He said Proham was also in support of the Bar Council’s planned peaceful March on Oct 16, to express its views on the Sedition Act.
The march, dubbed “Walk for Peace and Freedom 2014”, will see Bar members dressed in Chamber attire.