Minister blames Malaysians for Sedition Act reversal
Abdul Rahman said: “No prime minister worth his salt would repeal the Sedition Act after seeing how we could be capable of spewing hatred and venom at each other.”
But who is “we”? Aren’t these the likes of Ibrahim Ali, Perkasa, Isma, other racist NGOs allied to Umno and Umno members who stormed the Penang legislative assembly, threatened or perpetrated violence against Pakatan Rakyat parties and leaders, vowed to burn bibles, lied about a plot to Chrisitianise Malaysia, raided Hindu weddings, snatched corpses at funerals, confiscated bibles illegally, etc?
Isn’t it true that none of them have been punished despite numerous provocative acts intended to incite racial and religious hatred and violence? Isn’t it true that all of the scores of Pakatan leaders, academics, student leaders and other critics of BN who have been convicted, charged or investigated under the Sedition Act have breached no law other than making legitimate criticism of the BN establishment?
Abdul Rahman, if you are honest, you should have admitted that Najib has buckled under pressure of his party, which is so panicky about losing support of the awakening masses that it sees draconian law as its last straw to stay afloat.
Anon1: Abdul Rahman, it was never Najib’s intention to repeal the Act. Immediately after GE13, he unleashed Perkasa and Isma to taunt, insult and annoy everybody on issues of race and religion so as to invite response, actions and comments, while he and his administration stood silently and tacitly encouraged the mob further.
Since the law enforcers were not doing anything to quell the situation, the ordinary folks vented their frustration, which is a natural consequence when tyranny takes over. The tactic worked (for him and his advisers) and thus his justification why the Sedition Act will not be repealed to safeguard race, religion and royalty.
So, Abdul Rahman, who betrayed Malaysians? Who failed to provide protection to Malaysians from the mobs who stir racial and religious issues?
Rupert16: Indeed, it’s the PM who betrayed the people’s trust in him – what with his continuous flip-flopping and double-speak to different audiences.
His “betrayal” with regard to the repeal of the Sedition Act will certainly not be his last. This I can bet my last dollar on as he is a weak leader without any political will and easily swayed with the wind like a lallang.
Fair Play: Abdul Rahman, don’t try to justify the unjustifiable. Nobody forced the PM to make a public declaration to repeal the Sedition Act. He did it on his own free will.
Now, under intense pressure from his own political party (of which he is supposed to be the undisputed leader), he caved in and recant on his promise.
Any which way you look at it, the PM did not endear himself with those who want the nation to progress.
Jae K: Abdul Rahman, your boss boasted to repeal the act, the people tested his resolve, and he failed miserably by going back on his words.
Casey: It just goes to show how servile, narrow and stupid our ministers can be. There is no such thing as the people failing the government. Similarly, there is no such thing as repressive people, only repressive government.
All free-loving people cherish three paragons of virtue: freedom of speech; freedom of conscience, and the prudence to practice them.
By bowing to pressure from within Umno and retaining the Sedition Act, Najib has failed the people; and in so doing made mockeries of all three paragons of virtue.
Pemerhati: Abdul Rahman has either been told to say something in support of Najib or he on his own is trying to impress his boss.
He and others, who are giving silly reasons to support Najib’s U-turn, will have a tough time convincing the people. This is because by now most people know that Najib is a liar and cannot be trusted to keep his word.
Gerard Lourdesamy: Not repealing the Sedition Act is Umno’s stand and not yet the BN’s stand.
The U-turn, like all of Najib’s flip-flop policies, was done to save his own skin due to the pressure from the Umno right-wing and nationalists led by former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other party warlords.
The Sedition Act has, and will, continue to be used as an instrument of oppression by Umno-BN to stifle dissent, freedom of speech and a free press. If the Act was fair, why a disproportionate number of opposition figures were charged but not the vile racists and bigots in Umno or Perkasa?
If the Act is really necessary, ‘seditious tendency’ should be abolished and replaced with ‘seditious intent’ and the Act extended not just to the core provisions in the constitution but to all provisions that touch on religion, royalty, race, citizenship, education and state rights in relation to Sabah and Sarawak.
Also ensure that criticism of the government is removed from the Act while contempt of court is dealt with under a separate Act.
Disgusted: Sedition Act is there to only protect Umno and its minions. The rest are subjected to prosecution or rather persecution using the Act.
From all the charges so far, it is obvious that it is the opposition who are at the receiving end of the Act’s application. Even the few and rare pro-Umno people charged, none of them have been sentenced to jail and many of their cases have not come up for hearing whilst the speed and haste in charging the opposition and sentencing them seem obvious.
Maplesyrup: It looks like Malaysians too should be blamed for allowing PKFZ (Port Klang Free Zone), KLIA2 (Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2) and the annual blitz of misdeeds carried out by civil servants – for after all, it was Malaysians albeit just 47 percent who put BN in a position to allow these things to perpetuate.
Anonymous #63753867: Zunar’s cartoon paints an excellent picture of the Umno general assembly.
Garrulous Gary: The minister is right. This is our fault. We have let them rule for too long. It’s time to throw out the trash at GE14.
Shibboleth: There will be a special section in the amendment to the Sedition Act which will penalise all comments in Malaysiakini. Fellow commenters, do enjoy writing in Malaysiakini while it last.
As for you minister, I shall recommend you for the ‘Grandmaster Spinner Hero’ Award. The next time I step on your foot, I will blame you for getting in my way.
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