'Disappointed' Anwar raps Najib's about-turn
MalaysiaKini.com
Nov 27, 2014

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has flayed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for going back on his promise to do away with the Sedition Act, calling it an act of bowing to extremists.

"I am disappointed that Najib has broken his promise to abolish the Sedition Act.

"(He has) bowed to pressure from groups that are seen as right wing and extremist that want to use the law to suppress freedom and oppress the opposition and other activists," he told journalists at the Parliament lobby today.

He was responding to Najib's announcement at the Umno general assembly earlier that the colonial-era Sedition Act will be preserved, despite his earlier pledge to replace it with the National Harmony Act.

"Normally, when the prime minister gives such undertaking, he has to honour it.

"To renege is something very serious because it seems to be that the flip flop style of the government has become embedded," added Anwar.
 
He added that the argument that the Sedition Act is needed to protect the Malays is "fallacious".
 
"The Malays have been under Umno leadership since independence; their failure is the failure of the government," he said.
 
Review of security laws

Anwar said this development casts doubt on the government’s White Paper on the Islamic State threat.
 
The policy document called for the introduction of a new security law and strengthening of existing ones.
 
"This is why when supporting the White Paper yesterday, I expressed concern that (the new law) will be abused," he said.
 
Meanwhile, MIC deputy president S Subramaniam (right), when met at the Parliament lobby, said Najib did not discuss with the Cabinet when announcing that the Sedition Act will be retained.
 
"Not yet, we will discuss later (about retaining Sedition Act). I don't remember any discussions with the (BN) component parties," he said.
 
Subramaniam said Najib's move was likely due to feedback from the ground.
 
"But he also did say they will review certain areas and strengthen areas which are needed and probably liberalise on things in which political dissent and thinking is allowed on a healthy basis," said Subramaniam.
 
He said MIC will provide its input on the review.

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