PETALING JAYA: The arrest of former Free Malaysia Today (FMT) journalist Rex Tan under the Sedition Act 1948 was unnecessary and disproportionate to the wrong he had allegedly committed, says DAP legal bureau chairman Ramkarpal Singh.
“While what Tan had allegedly said is regretted, it is hard to see how it might have created unrest or caused alarm or fear, more so, amongst different races in light of his swift apology.
The Bukit Gelugor MP said intention is irrelevant under the Sedition Act, and as such, Tan’s “mistake” as reflected in his apology would not be considered in the ultimate decision on whether to charge him.
“This is clearly draconian and defeats Tan’s right to be heard.
Ramkarpal also agreed with others who have pointed out that Pengkalan Chepa MP Ahmad Marzuk Shaary has made similar remarks in the past without consequences, such as when the latter posted on Facebook last October, portraying Malaysia’s non-Muslim and non-bumiputera citizens as threats to Malay-Muslim interests.
As such, Ramkarpal believes the matter should be put to rest since Tan has offered an apology.
“Charging Tan for sedition would be an overkill in the circumstances and would dampen the government’s reformist image and again, raise doubts on its commitment towards such reforms.
“The government should, instead, look into abolishing the Sedition Act or, at the very least, amending it in line with its reform agenda,” he said.
Media group Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) had earlier expressed concern over Tan’s arrest as well.
Tan was arrested at about midnight under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Section 505(c) of the Penal Code.
This comes after he raised a sensitive question, allegedly containing racial elements, during a public lecture in Kuala Lumpur.
Following the controversy over the question, Tan issued an apology on Thursday (Jan 15) and subsequently resigned from FMT.
The Malaysian Media Council later condemned the doxxing, harassment, and intimidation of journalists due to the backlash against Tan.
