KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 — In a rare show of solidarity, lawmakers from both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties called on Putrajaya today to withdraw the Sedition (Amendment) Bill 2015, raising concerns that it would have a dire effect on public freedoms.

MPs from both sides of the divide argued that the planned amendments to the colonial era law places too much power in the hands of the police and would undermine the rule of law in the country.

Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, the BN MP for Kinabatangan, said there are provisions in the proposed amendments that would allow one party to violate the rights of others without any recourse.

"I'm not a lawyer, but I have looked through the entire Bill and I am not convinced. If I am not convinced, we should reject it," he said when debating the Bill.

"The police cannot take over the role of the judges, or the prosecutors. The police cannot take over our jobs... that is why I don't support this," he added.

DAP's Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran suggested that Putrajaya go back to the drawing board and consult all stakeholders to come up with something that is acceptable to all parties.

"We are of the same position that something is not right... it is time to not only retract the Bill but to also get more discussions with stakeholders, including between BN and PR lawmakers to come up with a better outcome," he said when interjecting.

BN's Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said criticised the federal government's rush to introduce the amendments, arguing that the contents of the Bill have not gone through exhaustive scrutiny.

"As a lawyer it is not fair in many aspects... why so eager to push this law to the point that the need for the role of judges and (other) agencies are forgotten?" she said.

PKR's Kuala Kedah MP Dr Azman Ismail stressed that any attempt to amend existing laws or introduce new legislation cannot come at the expense of the rule of law, democracy and human rights.

Bung agreed with suggestions for a bipartisan committee to go through the Bill, repeating his position that the proposed amendments are unacceptable in their current form.

"(The government) must call both sides to discuss and if this is really needed, then it must be refined.

"I firmly ask that this Bill is withdrawn and not discussed further," he said.

The planned revisions to the Act seek to make it an offence to excite “ill will, hostility or hatred” on grounds of religion and race as well as to demand the secession of a state from Malaysia, while maintaining the prohibitions towards exciting disaffection against the rulers or questioning issues such as Bumiputera privileges.

The amendments will also impose jail terms of between five and 20 years on those who cause bodily harm or property damage in a seditious act, and imprisonment of between three and seven years for non-violent acts of sedition.

Putrajaya previously pledged to repeal the Sedition Act that critics say is used to stifle political opposition and dissent, but later announced in November last year that it will be retained and expanded instead.