Several Malaysian non-government organizations (NGOs) are up in arms
over what they claim as the government's continuous invoking of laws
to criminalize free expression.

In a press statement, SEAPA partner Centre for Independent
Journalism (CIJ), along with the National Human Rights, Society
(HAKAM) and Writers Alliance for Media Independence (WAMI), such
offences are not consistent with the guarantee of
free expression entrenched in the Federal Constitution.

They cited as example the offences of sedition and criminal
defamation used in the arrest of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.

On July 17, police arrested Raja Petra at the Police Contingent
Headquarters in the capital city and charged him with criminal
defamation. Raja Petra at the time had been making statements on
his statutory declaration linking the deputy prime minister's wife,
Rosmah Mansor and two soldiers with the murder of Mongolian
national Altantuya Sharibuu.

Raja Petra, who had earlier written about the issue, as well as
the alleged involvement of the deputy prime minister, Najib Abdul
Razak, in his blog, malaysia-today.net, was charged on May 6 under
the Sedition Act. He refused to post bail and was taken to the
Sungai Buloh jail for three days. He is scheduled to go on trial
on October 6.

In a press statement, the NGOs said, "Free expression is
a cornerstone of any democracy and space must be maintained for it.
Though the legislating of laws aimed at preserving public order and
security is permitted by the Federal Constitution, the offences of
criminal defamation and sedition are not necessary to achieve
these aims."

They further noted that there are laws in place that sufficiently
serve this purpose, such as those aimed at deterring incitement and
hate speech. There are also laws that allow persons
whose reputations are injured to seek compensation through civil
proceedings.

The statement also added, "We call on the Government and the
authorities to desist from relying on those laws that criminalize
expression and to take steps towards repealing the same in
fulfillment of its commitment to international human rights
norms. We also call on the authorities to immediately release Raja
Petra and to drop charges for sedition and criminal defamation
against him."

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CIJ (http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=MM9YV&m=1ZDSO77kAzKXin&b=vMlZgG3VIEtwXu.vWPo1Yg)