UNDER-FIRE Deputy Home Minister Mohd Azis Jamman has denied supporting the use of the Sedition Act against the younger brother of Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Noor Adam three days ago. 

He said he was only stating that the act, which the new government intends to repeal, is still in force until Putrajaya abolishes it.

“I don’t agree with the act, personally. It was a law used by the Barisan Nasional to defend its own political interests.

“But professionally, the act remains in power, until it is repealed or abolished. 

“The same goes with the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (Pota) or Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma). They have yet to be abolished, too,” he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu today. 

Azis said some had mistaken his explanation as a sign that he supported the use of the act to detain Lokman’s brother, Azman Noor Adam.  

“What I had said about the Sedition Act was merely stating the facts. 

“The reality remains that the act remains valid and the use of the law by the police was not against any regulation.”

Azis said he was also surprised when Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun told him at a recent post-cabinet meeting about the use of the Sedition Act on Azman, instead of using other existing laws.

On October 2, police remanded Azman for uploading a photograph insulting Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on his social media account.

He is being detained for four days. 

Azis’ remark was criticised by lawyers, including N. Surendran from Lawyers for Liberty, who said the Warisan MP was not fit to be a deputy minister.

Syahredzan Johan, who is DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang’s political secretary, today also called on police to have a moratorium on the use of the Sedition Act pending its repeal. – October 5, 2018.