A LAWYERS’ group wants the solicitor-general (SG) to review politically motivated cases that were undertaken by the previous Barisan Nasional government.

SG Nor Faizah Engku Atek is currently heading the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) pending the appointment of the new attorney-general.

In a statement today, Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen wants Nor Faizah to review cases relating to the Sedition Act, the Peaceful Assembly Act, the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act.

“We call upon the SG to determine whether these charges are genuine or politically motivated,” Paulsen said.

Pending that, the SG must direct all deputy public prosecutors to put on hold and postpone all such ongoing prosecutions, he said.

He said the “oppressive” laws were “outdated, overly broad and misused” to target dissidents and political opponents of the previous government.

“While the repeal and amendments of these laws will require time and parliamentary proceedings to take place, there is no such restriction upon the prosecution policies of the AGC, and they should be rectified as a matter of urgency to reflect the priorities of the new government,” Paulsen said. – May 21, 2018.