LAWASIA,
the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific, has noted the
considerable concern expressed by its member organisation, the Bar
Council Malaysia, in reaction to the many recent instances of use of the
Sedition Act 1948 in Malaysia, including against lawyers.
It
is wholly supportive of the efforts of the Malaysian Bar in protesting
these actions, observing that the Sedition Act has long been viewed by
the region’s legal community as an outmoded and repressive piece of
legislation that should not be used to stifle legitimate freedom of
expression in modern Malaysia.
LAWASIA
further notes the international concern at these developments, as
expressed by a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights in a media release of 16 September, where the UNHCHR calls
on the Malaysian government to cease its use of this legislation, to
repeal or amend it and to drop charges against those who are facing
prosecution under it.
LAWASIA
joins its voice to that of the Malaysian Bar in calling into question
what appears to be an excessive and discriminatory use of this and other
legislation, aimed at curtailing the rights of Malaysians to express
fair criticism of the government that serves them. It views with serious
concern instances cited by the Malaysian Bar where provisions of the
Sedition Act have been invoked against lawyers and legal academics for
giving opinions on matters of law and the Constitution.
As
an organisation representing the legal profession of the Asia Pacific
region, it especially supports the Malaysian Bar’s call on authorities
to respect universally-agreed principles related to the roles and
requirements of lawyers, as well as the responsibility of governments to
ensure that they are able to carry out these roles without hindrance.
Isomi Suzuki
PRESIDENT
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