Source: The Malay Mail Online

BY VINCE TAN

SEPT 2 — A year ago, one of my lecturers Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom was charged with sedition. He was not the only one as many others from academics to lawyers, students to activists and not to mention opposition politicians were caught in the sedition dragnet.

The charge against Dr Azmi Sharom in particular was seen as an attack on academic freedom as he was commenting on the Perak Constitution Crisis back in 2009 and it was reported online.

Such prosecution would undoubtedly leave an unwanted precedent in academia which would lead to a culture of fear where self-censorship is practised in our speech, writing, performance and many other kinds of expression.

The reason I am writing this piece is so that we do not forget easily the crimes that were committed against democracy and human rights. In a country where many of such violations against human rights and undemocratic practices prevail, we move on from one issue to another too fast thus allowing us to forget the injustice that happened in the past. I hope this article will allow its readers to take a look at the Sedition Act from a different perspective. Read more →