.jpg "Supporters of preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin hold a candlelight vigil outside the Kajang Prison July 9, 2019. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Shafwan Zaidonnn")
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — The government now needs to study the suitability of repealing the Sedition Act 1948, the prime minister said today after questions over its delay that led to the recent jailing of Muslim preacher and PKR member Wan Ji Wan Hussin.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad conceded his Pakatan Harapan (PH) government had delayed initiatives to repeal the controversial law after promising to do so if it won the general election last year.
“After we have studied the law again to find out whether it is suitable or not, we will bring back to Parliament,” he told reporters who asked him the timeline to repeal the Act.
Wan Ji, who was found guilty of making seditious remarks against the sultan of Selangor seven years ago, lost his conviction appeal at the High Court in Shah Alam, Selangor yesterday,
High Court judge Abdul Halim Aman even raised the preacher’s sentence from nine months to 12.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Federal government respects the court decision and said it depends on Wan Ji as to whether the latter would want to appeal his conviction.
The Pagoh MP said while the PH government is committed to review the Act and other laws, he said it is still being studied and the ruling party had not come to a conclusion.
“It is one of the laws we had promised to review and other draconian laws. We are committed in determining whether it should be amended or abolished but this has not been decided.
“But this issue [Wan Ji] is a court issue. Perhaps he was charged under the Act as it has not been repealed… but I do not want to go against the court decision as it can be said as sub judice or contempt of court,” he said.
