Paul Low: There must be limit to freedom of expression

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low believes there should be certain boundaries for freedom of expression and the recent prosecution against several individuals was necessary to prevent potential chaos in the country.

He said the government had full confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary and the Attorney-General Chambers in handling cases under the Sedition Act 1948.

"AG's office, as the absolute power in prosecuting whoever commits sedition, and the government will not intervene in the matter," he said during the question-and-answer of the plenary session entitled, 'Hard Talk on Human Rights', at the International Malaysia Law Conference.

He said although the Malaysian Bar and other pressure groups were against the Act, the government needed to listen to views supporting the Act for it to be retained.

The minister pointed out that since the general election, "things got heated up" where statements issued resulted in hatred and fear among the general public.

On another note, Low said the government was committed in engaging more with civil society, including the Malaysian Bar, in improving all laws related to human rights.

Answering several hard-hitting questions, Low, who was also ex-president of Transparency International Malaysia, said the government was looking at ways to address abuse of power, especially among enforcement agencies.

Among the steps taken were strengthening the Enforcement Agency Integrity Organisation (EAIC) which came under the purview of his ministry which monitored 19 enforcement agencies, inluding the police force.

"We will be engaging more investigation officers to be attached with EAIC and a full-time commissioner to look into all the complaints received by the agency," he said, while acknowledging the ineffectiveness of the agency since its formation in April 2011.

Low also disclosed that 90% of the complaints received by EAIC were linked to the police force. - Bernama