Sedition Act has lost credibility

KOTA KINABALU - The Sedition Act should be abolished as it has lost its credibility, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee.

“Like the Internal Security Act 1960, the Sedition Act 1948, has lost its credibility both as a deterrent and punitive law,” he said in an interview with Radio Free Sarawak yesterday.

“Its selective enforcement has brought the law into disrepute and made people angry," Yong claimed.

“The most common legitimate complaint is that why are the likes of extremist Ibrahim Ali left off the hook whereas academics and opposition activists are targeted? “The Sedition Act has lost its credibility,” said Yong in the low key interview here.

“Therefore, like the Internal Security Act, the time has come for this Sedition Act to be abolished,” he added.

Yong pointed out that some of his party colleagues, like academic Hj Amde Sidik and pensioner Foo Fook Ming, have been hauled up by the police for questioning over the public forum “Malaysia At Crossroads” organised by the Progressive Institute of Public Policy Analysis last month in Kota Kinabalu.

Yong revealed that Radio Free Sarawak is available on Short Wave 15420 khz at 7pm to 8.30pm daily.