Sedition Act won’t shield corrupt leaders forever, says Zaid Ibrahim

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak must remember that the people always win against corrupt and oppressive leaders, says a former Umno minister. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, April 3, 2015.

Although the Sedition Act has been retained, a former Umno minister warned that leaders who have "wronged" the country should not use the colonial-era law to "shield" them from their wrongdoings.

Writing in his blog, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said oppressive means to stifle dissent would not be popular, adding that it was a matter of time before the legislation was abolished.

"All I can say is that the people of this country do not need the Sedition Act. 

"This law is used to prevent people like you and me from talking about abuses that affect our country.

"Najib and his friends must remember that the people always win against corrupt and oppressive leaders, no matter how much force is used to suppress their will. It’s just a matter of time," he said in reference to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. 

"The Sedition Act will go once the country is free. For now the act can shield them, but without it, the leaders who have wronged this country will be exposed."

The former de facto law minister's comments came after the arrests of two senior executives and three editors from The Edge and The Malaysian Insider earlier this week under the Sedition Act over a report published on March 25, which said the Conference of Rulers had rejected a proposal to amend a federal law that would pave the way for hudud to be enforced in Kelantan.

The Malaysian Insider managing editor Lionel Morais, Bahasa news editor Amin Iskandar and features and analysis editor Zulkifli Sulong were arrested on Monday evening, after the police and personnel from the Multimedia and Communication Commission of Malaysia (MCMC) came to TMI's newsroom at The Edge Media Group’s office in Mutiara Damansara.

This followed a police report lodged by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal.

The Edge publisher Ho Kay Tat and The Malaysian Insider chief executive Jahabar Sadiq were also arrested on Tuesday after they presented themselves for questioning at the Dang Wangi police station in the morning.

Morais, Amin and Zulkifli were released on bail Tuesday night after the magistrate's court rejected the police's application to remand them further for investigation.

Ho and Jahabar were released on Wednesday.

Umno ministers defended the authorities’ harsh actions.

But, Zaid questioned the actions taken, saying that instead of lodging a police report, the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal could clarify if the story had been baseless.

- TMI