KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Four rights experts from the United Nation’s Human Rights Council have criticised Malaysia over the retention of the Sedition Act 1948, even as former Bersih chief Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan is set to be targeted in the ongoing crackdown on dissent.

Pointing out that the UN has repeatedly complained about the use of the Sedition Act — going as far back as 16 years ago — the four UNHRC experts said the colonial era law was a way to prevent Malaysians from freely expressing and debating ideas and opinions.

“It is time for Malaysia to adjust its legislation, including the 1948 Sedition Act, to be in line with international human rights standards, and take firm steps towards the effective enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression,” the quarter said in a statement posted on the UN website

The four are Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye; the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Michel Forst; and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul.

They then reminded Putrajaya that it had, as recently as March, committed to the UHRC that it will tackle concerns over the law.

“We wish to build on this commitment and engage in a dialogue with the Malaysian authorities to end the criminalisation and prosecution of what appears to be legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

“We have offered our support to the authorities in this way forward,” the UNHRC experts added.

Today, patron of pro-unity group Negara-Ku Ambiga was reportedly the subject of a new police investigation over remarks she made regarding the National Civic Bureau (BTN) during a forum on non-discrimination last week.

News portal The Malaysian Insider said that one of its reporters is being sought by police in Terengganu over its article in which Ambiga is quoted as saying that the BTN was “brainwashing” the Malay community.

In 2012, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak pledged to replace the Sedition Act with laws on national harmony, as part of his legal reforms to afford Malaysians greater civil liberties.

But the law continues to be wielded by authorities despite Putrajaya’s repeated insistence that it will do away with the colonial era law.

At least 20 people including lawmakers, academics and activists have been investigated or charged under the Sedition Act in the space of one month recently, sparking criticisms that the government was abusing the law to quell dissent.

Putrajaya was forced last month to repeat its commitment to do away with the law, after it was seen as targeting critics with a slew of sedition action.

But with growing pressure from conservatives within his own party, Umno, Najib said recently that the government may not repeal the Sedition Act after all if replacement laws were inferior.

De facto law minister Nancy Shukri told Parliament this week that Putrajaya is also considering introducing new laws to “complement” the Sedition Act, instead of abolishing it.