YOURSAY ‘Sedition Act’s most glaring contribution is to quell the people’s voice.’

Mahathir: Chaos if Sedition Act is abolished

SteveOh: This is absurd conjecturing and alarmist. Why is internal security not in chaos after the ISA was abolished? If we recall, former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad was also against its repeal.

Chaos happens when people are allowed to make incendiary remarks and the police and the government do nothing to stop the provocative conduct.

Selective policing and skewed governance result in chaos because when wrongdoers are not stopped, they will be emboldened to do more wrongs.

Good and just governance is what counts, not the retention of useless laws. As Mahathir has also shown, asking those who talk nonsense to 'zip up' will also help.

Tholu: The Internal Security Act was, for most of the time, invoked on opposition politicians and terrorists. Now, Mahathir, can you please elaborate on your assertion that the crime rate has increased as a result of the abolishment of ISA?

Are you saying these politicians and terrorists have now resorted to crimes like murder, robbery and rape?

This had always been your tactic, hasn't it - to say something that can be construed by the people as being very true because of the plausible close relationship between your assertion and the possible consequence - although in reality, they are remote and never linked at all.

Your machinations was to instill fear in the people, especially the Malays, and then telling them adverse consequences will happen if they vote for the opposition.

Your tactics are trite and even the Malays are tired of it. Remember that it’s no longer the 80s. People are wiser now and can quickly recognise your follies.

Too Lan: Sedition Act or not, Umno and its cronies are already breaking all the laws.

Anonymous_40f4: It will result in chaos for Umno because Umno needs the Sedition Act to jail political opponents who get too difficult and problematic for Umno, like the late Karpal Singh, as well as Rafizi Ramli, Teresa Kok, etc.

RichieRahRah: Isn't allowing citizens to openly debate a country's institutions central to democratic principles? After all, it is the institutions that serve us, and not vice-versa.

Mahathir might see those who do not share his opinions as "extremists". I see him as an "absolutist" - a far more dangerous proposition.

RR: The scenario that if there is no Sedition Act the monarchy will be affected, is absurd as the federal constitution provides the necessary safeguards to the monarchy.

The three well-crafted Harmony Bills are necessary more than ever because racial and religious hatred is being created by a few fanatics in the country.

ISA is not supposed to be used against the criminals. The Penal Code is sufficient to deal with the criminals provided the police are effective and efficient.

Apa Ini?: The biggest criminals have never been threatened by the ISA - they are still out there using power and position to bribe and cheat, and put away their millions in foreign banks and property.

And then there are many more that corrupt the minds of the young and uneducated to commit racist acts to divide and rule Malaysians. The ISA was used principally to de-activate opposition politicians and its abolishment has nothing to do with the present crime rates.

Raja Chulan: Yes, in Thailand they have the lese majeste law. See what is happening in Thailand right now. The royalist political parties and factions are using the king and this law to trample on democracy and a democratically elected government.

88888: The things Mahathir once said about the sultan of a certain state - that was real sedition, but nothing happened to him because he was then the PM.

MacMac: Mahathir, the patron of Perkasa, is worried as the Sedition Act will be abolished. However most of these seditious acts are committed by these extremist NGOs and they go scot-free while those from the opposition are hauled up immediately.

Anonymous_3faa: Precisely because the Sedition Act is applied so selectively by the current regime, that it is deemed obnoxious.

Malaysia is the only country in the world that uses this Act so liberally and selectively as to invite ridicule for their nonsensical persecution of the opposition. Most nations, including the United States, have similar laws but they are very rarely used.

Mahathir is raising the spectre of chaos when it suits him. How convenient for one who has forever lost his legacy for the nefarious acts against his own citizens during his infamous tenure.

Mob1900: The Sedition Act is for enforcers who're too dumb and lazy to investigate and charge the suspects with proper evidence. The most glaring contribution of the Act however is to quell voices and any form of questions the people have.

Well Thats Fantastic: Our legal system can stand on its own without the need for ISA. Mahathir would have us all believe that there would be chaos without him around to tell us what to do.

Casey: Any leader who is worth his salt should know that he is accountable for his actions or inactions as he exercises his official duty and moral agency. If he understands this principle and make righteous decisions, the country will be blessed.

Unfortunately, the propensity towards racial politics seems to have compromised responsibility and clouded one's moral values.

It's sad to see that even the prime minister, his deputy and ministers speak and behave as if they are Malay first and Malaysian second.

This anomaly is perhaps premised on a wrong assumption that - more than half a century after the country has existed as a nation - communal politics should still be the prevailing strategy adopted by politicians in order to hang on to power. Unfortunately, it is just a myth.

Survivor: Mahathir, oh Mahathir, who are the extremists actually? Isma? Perkasa? Al-Qaeda? Abim? PAS? DAP? PKR? Umno Baru? Jemaah Islamiah?

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