Historical Ghee Hin-Hai San clashes show Sedition Act still needed, says Utusan writer

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — Malaysia’s turbulent history as illustrated by the clashes between two pre-Independence secret societies, the Ghee Hin and Hai San, meant security laws from the era like the Sedition Act are still necessary, an Utusan Malaysia columnist wrote today.

Joining the chorus of criticism against the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) that is drafting three Bills to replace the colonial era law, Datuk Ahmad Faris Abdul Halim claimed that the 19^th century violence and the Al-Maunah incident in 2000 demonstrated the continued relevance of such powers despite the rights violations they entail.

Other examples the self-described current affairs analyst cited as historical evidence to support the call to retain the Sedition Act include the May 13, 1969 racial riots and the 2011 Bersih rally for free and fair elections.

“Based on all these incidents, the country has a need to take action under such laws — the Sedition Act 1948, the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960, the Police Act 1967, Restricted Residence Act (RRA) 1933, the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime ) Act 1969 and the Acts of security and public order another.

“The administration of these laws, though criticised for sidelining human rights and the rule of law, has been able to control the many events that threaten security and public order,” he wrote in the Malay-language daily.

Since 2011, Putrajaya has repealed the ISA and the RRA as well as lifted three Emergency orders that had remained in effect since the 60s. It has also pledged to repeal the Sedition Act in a continuation of its reforms push.

Pro-establishment figures regularly criticise the reforms as curbing powers to tackle crime, although the underlying message is that Putrajaya is surrendering laws that have been used to stifle dissent.

Last month, the NUCC unveiled three draft bills — Racial and Religious Hate Crimes Bill, National Harmony and Reconciliation Bill and National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Bill — that it is proposing to take the place of the law it described as a leftover from British colonial rule.

But the council is meeting with increasing resistance over its proposals, which critics — mainly from the Malay-Muslim community — allege would undermine Bumiputera special privileges.