KUALA LUMPUR – Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has slammed the Madani administration after authorities launched an investigation against lawyer Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali under the Sedition Act 1948.
Calling the probe “unlawful, unconstitutional and a blatant abuse of power,” LFL has demanded that authorities cease their investigation of Rafique immediately.
The NGO reminded the federal government – whose administration includes Pakatan Harapan (PH) members – of PH’s longstanding opposition to the Sedition Act.
“The late Karpal Singh was a staunch opponent of the Sedition Act; he must be turning in his grave now,” said LFL’s Zaid Malek in a statement today.
The group stressed that Putrajaya has a duty to uphold democratic principles enshrined in the Federal Constitution, particularly freedom of speech, and argued there is no justification for invoking this oppressive colonial-era law.
Moreover, given that Rafique’s speech criticised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, LFL suggested that such action mirrors repressive tactics used in dictatorial regimes like North Korea.
“It is an act of supreme betrayal that PH, the backbone of the Madani government, has entirely abandoned its promise and any previously held principles against using the Sedition Act to target political opponents and critics,” the statement added.
The probe reportedly pertains to a speech Rafique made at the “Save Malaysia: People’s Court Punish Anwar” rally in Perak on July 27.
According to reports, Rafique also faces investigation under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Previously in July, authorities questioned him under the Sedition Act after he labelled Anwar a “scammer” in a speech. – November 1, 2024