The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) welcomes the statement by Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin that national security laws, including the Printing Presses and Publications Act and the Sedition Act, will be repealed or reformed next month, as reported by local media outlets.
However, we would like to reiterate that the PPPA and Sedition Act have no place in an independent nation that aspires to have a human rights record respected internationally. The Printing Presses and Publications Act has few, if any, national security implications, rather it is an instrument for the ruling party or coalition to control freedom of expression. While it includes provisions on defamation and hate speech, these are amply covered in the Penal Code, and the Defamation Act, and there is no need for these provisions to be replicated. Its main function has been to regulate and license the print media to maintain government control. We therefore urge that both these Acts be repealed rather than amended.
CIJ further urges the Minister and his colleagues to engage in wide-ranging public consultation throughout the process of law reform, looking not only at engaging lawyers and civil servants, but also broader civil society and the public. We urge all Ministers to make proposed legislation available for public scrutiny at the earliest possible opportunity, and to facilitate feedback and opinion-gathering.
For further comment/ enquiries contact Sonia Randhawa (cijmalaysia@gmail.com)
