ALL pending court cases under the Sedition Act should be adjourned as the act may be reviewed by the new federal government, said DAP MP Ramkarpal Singh.

The Bukit Gelugor lawmaker said in a statement today that the courts should adjourn the cases pending the review of the act, which was used by the previous Barisan Nasional government as a political tool to stifle dissent.

“Many cases under the Sedition Act are currently pending in the courts and it is clear that most, if not all of them, are political in nature.

“It has always been our (Pakatan Harapan) stand that those who have been charged under the act ought not to have been charged in the first place, as the act ought to be abolished.

“As such, I urge the courts to adjourn those cases pending the review and ultimate abolishment of the Sedition Act in Parliament, since the Home Ministry has now indicated that there is a real possibility of this happening,” he said.

On Tuesday, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Putrajaya would review seven laws that were no longer suitable in today’s landscape – the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Sedition Act 1948, Peaceful Assembly Act 2012, Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca), Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015 (Pota), and the mandatory death sentence.

On reviewing the mandatory death sentence, Ramkarpal said he was prepared to work with the Home Ministry to propose the necessary amendments to all legislatures that imposed the mandatory death penalty “with a view to its total abolishment”.

He said it was clear from research conducted that the death penalty had not been an effective deterrent.

In Malaysia, offences that carry the death sentence include murder, trafficking of dangerous drugs, treason, waging war against the King, or other heavy criminal offences that result in death or murder like rape, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and gang robbery.

Ramkarpal said in light of Muhyiddin’s statement, he would file an application to the federal court for his client, who was on death row over a drug offence, to be allowed a stay of execution, pending the possibility that the death penalty would be abolished in the near future.

“It is hoped that the proposed application will be allowed and applied to all other inmates currently on death row, as the death sentence is irreversible.

“It is only fair that the sentences of these inmates be reviewed in the event the said mandatory death penalty is abolished.”

He said the new PH government must have the political will to usher in reforms as part of its agenda and the Home Ministry must be commended for making the necessary moves. – May 24, 2018.