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Tuesday, September 9, 2014

New movement ‘Hasut’ to launch street campaign against Sedition Act

Safwan Anang speaks to the media today on the new movement called 'Hasut' to campaign against the Sedition Act. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 9, 2014.Safwan Anang speaks to the media today on the new movement called 'Hasut' to campaign against the Sedition Act. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 9, 2014.
A coalition of young activists today launched an awareness campaign to educate the public on the contentious Sedition Act which in recent weeks had been used to stiffle dissent.
In the first series of the campaign, Gerakan Anak Muda Hapuskan Akta Hasutan (Hasut), comprising 11 student movements, will take to the streets in Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Day next week.
Hasut spokesman Muhammad Safwan Anang, who was convicted of a sedition charge and sentenced to 10 months' jail last week, said the first initiative called "Jalan-jalan hasut" will see members using public transportation to educate the masses.
Asked why they are using "hasut" (incite) as its name, Safwan said it is catchy, but said it is not meant to challenge the government.
Safwan was found guilty by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court last Friday of making seditious statements in a speech at a forum in the city last year.
He was charged together with PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang or Tian Chua, 51, fellow youth activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim, 25, pro-democracy activist Hishamuddin Rais, 63, PAS member Mohd Tamrin Abdul Ghafar, 64, and lawyer Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim, 55.
Safwan said that the act has been used rampantly against those who are vocal in criticising the government.
"Those charged are not only politicians but also activists, an academic and social activists.
"There were cases which touched on the sensitivities of other races and statements which incited hatred, but these were ignored by the Attorney-General's Chambers.
"This is why it is time to come up with a campaign to educate the public especially the youngsters on this 'outdated' act," he said.
Adam, who was present at the event today, said the movement was "not doing anything bad" but just educating the public.
"As for the name Hasut, it is only a word," he added.
Both Adam and Safwan said the coalition wants Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to fulfil his promise to repeal the act.
Adam said it is of the three demands the coalition will push forward in their campaign. It also wants the government to drop all sedition charges and for the Act not to be replaced with any other law.
Hasut will also attend rallies and talks organised by Universiti Malaya's student council and the varsity's academic staff union in solidarity with Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom, who became the first academic to be charged with sedition last week.
Azmi's views had been cited in a report titled "Take Perak crisis route for speedy end to Selangor impasse, Pakatan told" published by an online news portal on August 14.
- TMI

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