Dr M: Pakatan to repeal controversial laws, including fake news act

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan has pledged to repeal several laws if it wins the elections, said its chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic).

Among them are the Anti-Fake News Act 2018, Sedition Act 1948, Prevention of Crime Act 1959, Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1971, National Security Council Act 2016, and any law with mandatory death sentences.

Dr Mahathir said that the Pakatan government will also abolish several “oppressive” provisions in laws such as the Penal Code, the Communications and Multimedia Act, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, Peaceful Assembly Act, and the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

“Our stance is that when we form the government, we will repeal these acts that are deemed oppressive to the people,” he said during a press conference at the Opposition’s office in Parliament on Tuesday.

However, he did not elaborate on how these laws will be replaced once they are repealed.

“We will follow the requirements of the time. The Bills that we pass will not be oppressive, or be misused by the government to put pressure on the people,” he said.

He also defended himself from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who during her wrap-up speech after the second reading of the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 on Monday (April 2), had accused Dr Mahathir of using or enacting many “draconian” laws during his tenure as Prime Minister.

He claimed that the use of such controversial laws during his tenure was justified, and he did not abuse them.

“There was no misuse of the law during that time. Now, the rule of law does not apply,” he said.

Dr Mahathir also took the opportunity to slam the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 and the redelineation of seats that was recently passed in Parliament, saying that more time should have been allocated for debates.

“These two laws should have been seriously debated, but they were passed within two hours.

“So, now Parliament has become a sandiwara (play-acting). There is no seriousness to allow debates (to take place),” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is expected to dissolve Parliament, now in its last week, this Friday to make way for the 14th General Election.