Ramkarpal Singh Questions Continued Use of Sedition Act Amid Reform Delays
DAP's Ramkarpal Singh criticizes Home Minister's stance on Sedition Act, demands update on review and amendments after three years
Kuala Lumpur, January 22, 2026 – Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has slammed the government's ongoing enforcement of the Sedition Act 1948, calling it a betrayal of reform promises and urging transparency on its review status.
In a media statement, the DAP National Legal Bureau chairman highlighted Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's recent parliamentary reply, where he justified the Act's use "as long as it is still in force" and promised it would be applied "sparingly" during review, limited to cases involving the Royal Institution and national sovereignty.
Ramkarpal questioned this rationale, pointing to the recent investigation of former FMT journalist Rex Tan under the Act, noting, "This begs the question why former FMT journalist Rex Tan was recently investigated under the said Act when what he allegedly said did not touch on any of the above categories, namely the Royal Institution or national sovereignty."
He recalled the government's July 2023 announcement that the Act was under review to protect only the monarchy, and Saifuddin's March 2024 update on Cabinet approval for amendments. "If the said Act is indeed under review or is on the brink of being amended as claimed by Saifuddin, why is it still being used by the authorities today?" Ramkarpal asked.
Emphasizing the Act's colonial origins, he stated, "I have stated on various occasions in the past that the said Act, a relic of British colonial rule, is archaic, outdated, draconian and ought to be repealed." He noted that the UK abolished it in 2009 and Singapore in 2021.
Ramkarpal demanded clarity: "It is high time that the government discloses the status of the review process of the said Act and when amendments to it will be tabled or debated or if it will be replaced with legislation to specifically protect the Royal Institution."With nearly three years since the review promise, he warned,
"Continuing to use a law under review or which needs to be amended undermines public confidence in the government’s commitment towards reform." Malaysians, he added, "have the right to know if this promise will be fulfilled instead of being further delayed."
he statement reignites debate on Pakatan Harapan's reform agenda, amid concerns over freedom of expression.
Kazi Mahmood