“I always feel like, somebody’s watching me…”
It may well be a mere line from Rockwell’s 1984 hit song. But after having a look at human rights organisation Suara Rakyat Malaysia’s (Suaram) recently released report, it’s hard to not think of those lyrics.
You see, the country doesn’t come out smelling too good in the report – investigations under the Sedition Act (the one our glorious leader Muhyiddin Yassin was so reluctant to abolish in his previous life as Pakatan Harapan home minister), almost doubled this year.
Meanwhile, use of the gomen’s other favourite vague piece of legislature, the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), used to curtail online “mischief” – real or imagined – almost tripled this year! This usually pertains to posts critical of the gomen, authorities, politicians and royalty (allegedly! allegedly!). Remember the Al Jazeera shitstorm?
Of course, Pakatan were no angels when it came to initiating such probes. But according to Suaram data, they looked like rank amateurs next to Moo and his thin-skinned gomen.
Of 20 sedition investigations initiated by the po-po this year, all but one were launched after Perikatan Nasional came to power. As for the CMA, over 75% of cases came after Moo’s team took office.
Of course, some of this could well be for statements and posts related to Covid-19 and other fake news. But as BTL highlighted in this fine (ahem) analysis, laws such as the CMA could inadvertently be netting innocent uncles and aunties who just didn’t know any better.
Sadly, the problem of the Sedition Act and similar laws are not going away, even as GE15 rolls around. So the next time you speak/post, remember, A̶b̶a̶h̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶g̶a̶n̶g̶ somebody might just be watching!
Commentary
Shhh… Big Brother’s watching
“I always feel like, somebody’s watching me…”
It may well be a mere line from Rockwell’s 1984 hit song. But after having a look at human rights organisation Suara Rakyat Malaysia’s (Suaram) recently released report, it’s hard to not think of those lyrics.
You see, the country doesn’t come out smelling too good in the report – investigations under the Sedition Act (the one our glorious leader Muhyiddin Yassin was so reluctant to abolish in his previous life as Pakatan Harapan home minister), almost doubled this year.
Meanwhile, use of the gomen’s other favourite vague piece of legislature, the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA), used to curtail online “mischief” – real or imagined – almost tripled this year! This usually pertains to posts critical of the gomen, authorities, politicians and royalty (allegedly! allegedly!). Remember the Al Jazeera shitstorm?
Of course, Pakatan were no angels when it came to initiating such probes. But according to Suaram data, they looked like rank amateurs next to Moo and his thin-skinned gomen.
Of 20 sedition investigations initiated by the po-po this year, all but one were launched after Perikatan Nasional came to power. As for the CMA, over 75% of cases came after Moo’s team took office.
Of course, some of this could well be for statements and posts related to Covid-19 and other fake news. But as BTL highlighted in this fine (ahem) analysis, laws such as the CMA could inadvertently be netting innocent uncles and aunties who just didn’t know any better.
Sadly, the problem of the Sedition Act and similar laws are not going away, even as GE15 rolls around. So the next time you speak/post, remember, A̶b̶a̶h̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶g̶a̶n̶g̶ somebody might just be watching!
Illustration by Fahmi Reza
Fahmi Reza is one of Malaysia's most iconic political graphic artists and activists. Using his wizardry with the pen and his wicked sense of humour, he calls out government and political incompetence and deceit through graphics and posters.
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