2014 Malaysian sedition dragnet

The 2014 Malaysian sedition dragnet was a campaign by the government of Malaysia where several citizens were arrested and charged for allegedly making seditious statements in contravention of Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948. The term "sedition dragnet" is widely used by the Malaysian media to describe the campaign.http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/09/02/Court-UM-law-lecturer-Azmi-Sharom-denies-sedition-charge/ UM law lecturer Azmi Sharom denies sedition charge 2 September 2014 The Star Malaysia 9 September 2014http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/bersih-claims-sedition-dragnet-a-red-herring-from-gst-redelineation Bersih claims sedition dragnet a red herring from the GST, redelineation 5 September 2014 The Malay Mail Online 9 September 2014http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/with-sedition-dragnet-malaysia-takes-step-back-to-mahathir-era1 With sedition dragnet, Malaysia takes step back to Mahathir era 7 September 2014 The Malaysian Insider 9 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140908090645/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/with-sedition-dragnet-malaysia-takes-step-back-to-mahathir-era1 8 September 2014 dead Background The Sedition Act is considered by opposition politicians and activists to be an outdated draconian law introduced by the British colonial government which aims to stifle freedom of expression.http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/international-legal-group-condemns-use-of-sedition-act-to-suppress-freedom International group condemns use of Sedition Act to suppress freedom of expression 4 September 2014 The Malaysian Insider 9 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140908014820/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/international-legal-group-condemns-use-of-sedition-act-to-suppress-freedom 8 September 2014 deadhttp://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/is-the-pm-getting-cold-feet-on-the-sedition-act-ask-lawyers Is the PM getting cold feet on the Sedition Act, ask lawyers 5 September 2014 The Malaysian Insider 9 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140908014825/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/is-the-pm-getting-cold-feet-on-the-sedition-act-ask-lawyers 8 September 2014 dead Government officials however consider the Sedition Act as necessary to maintain peace in the country.http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/ismail-sabri-keep-sedition-act-to-maintain-peace Ismail Sabri: Keep Sedition Act to maintain peace 8 September 2014 The Malay Mail Online 9 September 2014 Another controversial piece of legislation, the Internal Security Act (ISA), was repealed in 2012 by the Najib Razak administration and replaced with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 following mounting criticism of the ISA, another colonial era law which had allowed for preventive detention and extrajudicial detention.https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303644004577520820462366652 Malaysia Scraps Law Seen as Weapon Against Critics 11 July 2012 The Wall Street Journal 9 September 2014 Activists and politicians have complained that the dragnet was carried out despite prime minister Najib's earlier promises to repeal the Sedition Act.http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/shahidan-totally-wrong-pm-did-promise-to-repeal-sedition-law-umno-man-says Shahidan 'totally wrong', PM did promise to repeal sedition law, Umno man says (VIDEO) 5 September 2014 The Malay Mail Online 9 September 2014 Arrests Among the people arrested were opposition politicians Khalid Abdul Samad, N. Surendran and Teresa Kok while among non-politicians who were arrested were Universiti Malaya law professor, Azmi Sharom and Malaysiakini journalist Susan Loone as well as other political activists.http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/unafraid-of-jail-a-young-father-fights-the-sedition-act Unafraid of jail, a young father fights the Sedition Act 7 September 2014 The Malaysian Insider 9 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140908044839/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/unafraid-of-jail-a-young-father-fights-the-sedition-act 8 September 2014 dead Muhammad Safwan Anang who was convicted under the Sedition Act on 5 September 2014http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/former-student-activist-jailed-10-months-for-sedition Former student activist jailed 10 months for sedition 5 September 2014 The Malaysian Insider 10 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195449/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/former-student-activist-jailed-10-months-for-sedition 10 September 2014 dead was charged earlier in 2013 together with PKR's Tian Chua, PAS' Tamrin Ghafar Baba, student activist Adam Adli and social activists Harris Ibrahim and Hishamuddin Rais in relation to their role in allegedly inciting the people to change government through illegal means and is arguably not part of this sedition dragnet.http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/03/tian-chua-adam-adli-and-opposition-activists-case-management-set-for-aug-20/ Tian Chua, Adam Adli and opposition activists' case management set for Aug 20 3 July 2013 The Borneo Post Online 10 September 2014 All persons listed below were arrested or charged under the Sedition Act unless specified otherwise. + People arrested and/or charged in the sedition dragnet Name Background Date of charge Current status Alleged seditious actNg Wei Aik DAP Member of Parliament for Tanjong constituency 10 February 2014 Acquitted and discharged by Sessions Courthttp://www.thesundaily.my/news/1807572 Ng acquitted and discharged over sedition charge (Updated) Published an article in a Chinese daily, questioned Najib's intention for jailing the former Opposition Leader, Anwar Ibrahim. Teresa Kok DAP Member of Parliament for Seputeh constituency 6 May 2014 - Making a Chinese New Year greeting video posted on YouTube which allegedly included jokes on Malaysia being a dangerous country and on the recent Lahad Datu intrusion.http://english.astroawani.com/news/show/teresa-kok-charged-with-sedition-over-onederful-malaysia-video-claims-trial-35294 Teresa Kok charged with sedition over Onederful Malaysia video, claims trial 6 May 2014 Astro Awani 11 September 2014 Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman ISMA president 20 June 2014 - Saying that Chinese migrants brought by the British to Malaya were trespassers.http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/06/20/Isma-chief-denies-sedition-charge-Abdullah-Zaik-vows-to-fight-on-for-Muslim-and-Malay-rights/ Isma chief denies sedition charge 20 June 2014 The Star Malaysia 10 September 2014 N. Surendran PKR Member of Parliament for Padang Serai and one of Anwar Ibrahim's lawyer 19 August 2014- Criticising the judgement in the second of Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trials and saying that the proceedings was an attempt to put the Malaysian opposition leader behind bars.http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/08/28/court-Surendran-pleads-not-guilty/ Surendran pleads not guilty to second sedition charge 28 August 2014 The Star Malaysia 10 September 2014Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin PAS Perak state assemblyman for Changkat Jering and former Mentri Besar of Perak 25 August 2014 Charged for criminal defamation (Section 500 Penal Code) For a speech made in 2012 saying "I was informed that Najib will call all the army generals to do something if BN lost in the general election."http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=304263&Itemid=77 https://archive.today/20140909052211/http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=304263&Itemid=77 dead 9 September 2014 Former Perak MB charged with defaming Najib two years ago 25 August 2014 The Edge 9 September 2014 Khalid Abdul Samad PAS Member of Parliament for Shah Alam constituency 26 August 2014 -Questioning the executive powers of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS)RSN Rayer DAP Penang state assemblyman for Seri Delima 27 August 2014Acquitted and discharged by Sessions Courthttp://www.thesundaily.my/news/1783390 Court acquits and discharges RSN Rayer (Updated)Saying "celaka UMNO" (damn UMNO)http://www.nst.com.my/node/27298 Rayer charged with sedition 27 August 2014 New Straits Times 9 September 2014Rafizi Ramli PKR Vice President and MP for Pandan 28 August 2014 Charged for provocation of breach of peace (Section 504 Penal Code) Accusing UMNO of conspiring to instigate religious strifehttp://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pkrs-rafizi-charged-with-provoking-umno PKR's Razifi charged with 'provoking' Umno 28 August 2014 The Malay Mail Online 10 September 2014Azmi Sharom Universiti Malaya law professor and columnist for The Star newspaper 2 September 2014 Charge withdrew by Attorney General via discretionary powers For commenting in a newspaper column about the 2009 Perak constitutional crisisDavid Orok State Reform Party (STAR)'s politician 3 September 2014- Accused of insulting Islam and Muhammad on Facebook.Susan Loone Malaysiakini journalist 4 September 2014Arrested 4 September 2014Publishing an interview with Penang state EXCO Phee Boon Poh in connection with the latter's arrest regarding PPS issueSafwan Awang Student activist 5 September 2014-Charged and arrested for making seditious remarks in an anti-government rally.Ali Abd Jalil Social activist affiliated with Anything But Umno (ABU) movement 8 September 2014-Belittling and calling for the abolishment of the Johor state monarchyhttp://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/another-pkr-activist-charged-with-sedition Another activist charged with sedition 8 September 2014 The Malaysian Insider 10 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195351/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/another-pkr-activist-charged-with-sedition 10 September 2014 deadWan Ji Wan Hussin Islamic preacher affiliated with PAS 10 September 2014 Arrested September 10 2014 Possibly for questioning the role of the rulers as the heads of religionhttp://english.astroawani.com/news/show/muslim-preacher-arrested-under-sedition-act-43624 Muslim preacher arrested under Sedition Act 10 September 2014 Astro Awani 10 September 2014http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/muslim-preacher-in-the-dock-for-sedition-over-insult-to-selangor-sultan Muslim preacher in the dock for sedition over insult to Selangor sultan 10 September 2014 The Malay Mail Online 10 September 2014Wong Hoi Cheng Unaffiliated project manager 15 September 2014 Charged under Section 504 Penal Code Describing the Malaysian chief police as the "Heinrich Himmler of Malaysia" on Twitterhttp://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/man-charged-over-tweet-calling-igp-a-nazi-general Man charged over tweet calling IGP a Nazi general 15 September 2014 The Malaysian Insider 15 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140915140859/http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/man-charged-over-tweet-calling-igp-a-nazi-general 15 September 2014 dead Related charges Former Perak chief minister Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was charged for criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code in August 2014 for a statement made in a speech in 2012 about prime minister Najib Razak.http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/dragnet-shows-urgency-to-axe-sedition-act-suhakam-tells-putrajaya Dragnet proves urgency to axe Sedition Act, Suhakam tells Putrajaya 2 September 2014 The Malay Mail Online 9 September 2014 Meanwhile, PKR Vice President Rafizi Ramli was charged for provocation of breach of peace under Section 504 of the Penal Code. References 30em Category:2014 in Malaysia Category:Human rights abuses in Malaysia Category:Sedition Category:Controversies in Malaysia Category:2014 in Malaysian politics Category:2014 controversies Category:Censorship in Malaysia