AG: People have more democratic space now, following GE14

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): There is no doubt that Malaysians have enjoyed far greater democratic space following the 14th General Election, says Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas (pic).

"In the last 16 months, far more space has been given to individuals and to critics of the government, and there is no doubt that Malaysia has never had this much of democracy from Merdeka days.

"There is a thriving social media which has spent time physically attacking me for 16 months and yet, no one has been prosecuted. So that is the best proof of the space you have," he said, prompting bursts of laughter from the audience.

Thomas said this in his closing speech at the Lawasia Constitutional & Rule of Law Conference 2019, themed, 'Constitutional Government: The Importance of Constitutional Structures and Institutions', at a hotel here.

Asked by Lawasia president Christopher Leong during a question-and-answer session on the progress of the abolition of the Sedition Act 1948, Thomas said the Attorney General's Chambers was very supportive of the reforms and that he had informed Parliament that the moment his office gets the instructions, it would speed up the necessary drafting.

On May 10, Law Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong said the act was expected to be abolished this year, following a decision by the Cabinet which was looking into various factors concerning the implementation of such a move. - Bernama