Penal Code

The Penal Code, specifically Section 505(c), and the Sedition Act 1948 are Malaysian laws being used by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government to investigate and detain individuals deemed to be inciting unrest or sedition. These laws, inherited from the colonial era, are now at the center of controversy due to recent arrests and investigations. News reports highlight the detention of a journalist, Rex Tan, under the Sedition Act for asking a question linking the Gaza crisis to the treatment of ethnic Chinese. This arrest, along with investigations into activists, academics, and political researchers accused of plotting to topple the government, has sparked criticism from civil society groups. These actions are viewed as a crackdown on dissent and raise concerns about the government's commitment to legal reforms and freedom of speech, casting doubt on Anwar Ibrahim's reform record.