[wanabidii] Press Releases: Malaysia's Sedition Act Amendments

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Press Releases: Malaysia's Sedition Act Amendments 04/14/2015 05:04 PM EDT Malaysia's Sedition Act Amendments Press Statement Marie Harf Acting Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 14, 2015 The United States notes the April 10 passage of amendments to Malaysia’s Sedition Act, and we reiterate our concern about restrictions on freedom of expression in Malaysia. We welcome the decision to remove provisions outlawing criticism of the government and the judiciary, and we hope the Government of Malaysia will therefore reconsider recent sedition charges brought under those now-defunct sections of the law. Other aspects of the Sedition Act amendments, however, threaten to restrict unduly speech and public discourse. Particularly worrying are new provisions that increase penalties—including for first-time offenders—and could make sharing allegedly seditious material on social media a crime. The public debate of ideas can be among the best protections against intolerance and can play a positive role in strengthening democracy and combating hatred. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:       External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.  Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State. This email was sent to wanabidii@googlegroups.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520

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