Wan Junaidi: Sedition Act not a ‘weapon’ to shut up government critics

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KUALA LUMPUR:The Sedition Act is not a ‘weapon’ to prosecute government critics, including those against the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the claim that the Sedition Act was retained to muzzle government critics as groundless and irresponsible.

“There is no basis that it (retention of Sedition Act) is due to the GST. In fact, the new amendments passed by Dewan Rakyat omitted the provision that the government cannot be criticised.

“Now, the government can be criticised,” he told reporters in parliament lobby here yesterday.

He was responding to a statement by Klang member of parliament, Charles Santiago who criticised the government’s decision to retain the Sedition Act.

Santiago told an Opposition news portal that the introduction of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) and the retention of the Sedition Act was to shut up GST critics.

Wan Junaidi slammed the MP from the DAP and advised him to understand the law before shooting his mouth.

“There is no mention of GST in amendments to the Sedition Act. Our focus is on those who use the social media to slander others.”

He said although criticising the government is no longer an offence under the Sedition Act, the people should not spread lies and instead make constructive criticisms. — Bernama