Malaysian reporter’s sedition arrest casts doubts on Anwar’s reform record

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Iman Muttaqin YusofJanuary 19, 2026 at 07:04 AM

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Malaysian journalist Rex Tan was arrested under the Sedition Act for asking a question at a public debate in Kuala Lumpur on January 12th. The question linked the Gaza crisis to the treatment of ethnic Chinese in Malaysia. Tan, who works for Free Malaysia Today, is being investigated under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Penal Code for allegedly making statements intended to cause alarm. His arrest followed three police reports filed against him after he questioned "exclusive nationalism" and an "us and them" mindset. He was released on bail after providing a statement. The incident has raised concerns about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's commitment to legal reforms, given the use of the colonial-era Sedition Act.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Han Suyin 40% Penal Code 40% George Galloway 50% Kuala Lumpur 50% Gaza ×270% Free Malaysia Today 70% Sedition Act 1948 80% Malaysia 85% Anwar Ibrahim 90% Rex Tan ×495%

Keywords

sedition arrest 90% rex tan 80% sedition act 80% legal reforms 70% anwar ibrahim 70% ethnic chinese 60% gaza crisis 60% freedom of speech 50% malay-majority country 50% nationalism 40%

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Negative

Score: -0.40

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Source

South China Morning Post

Political Lean

Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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sedition arrest rex tan sedition act legal reforms anwar ibrahim ethnic chinese gaza crisis freedom of speech malay-majority country nationalism

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