Joint Media Statement
17 October 2023
We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, stand in solidarity with Kean Wong, editor of “Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, And Hope in New Malaysia” as he undergoes investigation under the Sedition Act 1948, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
This book was banned on 1 July 2020 under the Printing Presses and Publications (Control of Undesirable Publications) Order 2020 as the government deemed it potentially prejudicial to public order, security, and national interest. This case was further investigated in 2020 under the Emblems and Names (Preventing Unlawful Use) (Amendment) Act 2016, Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 8 (1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
On 16 October 2023, Kean Wong was detained at the Kelana Jaya Immigration Department while applying for passport renewal and he was taken into police custody at Dang Wangi police station. As of 17 October 2023, the Magistrate has issued a further 24-hour remand order.
Kean Wong’s arrest, after 3 years from the time the book was banned, demonstrates the State’s concerted effort to suppress the public’s ability to both inform and to speak out without fear of censorship.
We urge the authorities to cease all investigations with immediate effect and demonstrate their commitment to upholding the rights bestowed upon the people by the Federal Constitution of Malaysia and under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act are archaic legislations with broad provisions, often arbitrarily used as a weapon to silence any critic. We remind the government of its early promise to repeal the Sedition Act, and the Printing Presses and Publications Act, as well as call for the immediate repeal of both the Acts and all other legislations, including Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, that restrict the freedom of expression. In the interim, we request that a moratorium be imposed, pending repeal or amendment of such legislations.
We ask all interested parties to support the protection of the inherent right of all to freedom of expression, by standing in solidarity with us against the violation of Kean Wong’s right to speak out.
17 October 2023
For further inquiries, please contact Wathshlah Naidu at +60122851949 and Sevan Doraisamy at +60169708370.
Organisations
- Centre for Independent Journalism
- SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia)
- Malaysia Design Archive
- Association of Women Lawyers
- Amnesty International Malaysia
- Justice for Sisters
- Deaf Advocacy and Well-being National Organisation, Malaysia
- Aliran
- ARTICLE 19
- North South Initiative
- GERAK (Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia)
- Persatuan Penulis Berbilang Bahasa (PEN Malaysia)
- CIVICUS
- Tenaganita
- EMPOWER
- KOMAS
- Parti Sosialis Malaysia
- Beyond Borders
- Freedom Film Network
- Sisters In Islam
- Gerakbudaya & SIRD
- GERAK Malaysia (kolektif anak muda)
Individuals
- Danesh Prakash Chacko
- Yong Li Zen
- Sheryll Stothard
- Debbie Stothard
- Chen May Yee
- Sharaad Kuttan
- Subatra Jayaraj
- Wong Chin Huat
- William Mangor
- Siti Kasim
- Anthony Choy
- Kee Thuan Chye
- Zaharom Nain
- James Chin
- Anil Netto
- Nadira Ilana
- Sumit Mandal
- Pauline Leong
- Masjaliza Hamzah
- Zikri Rahman
- Jeremy Lim
- Ivy N Josiah
- Zainah Anwar
- Marina Mahathir
- Rusaslina Idrus
- Thomas Fann
- Rahayu Mumazaini
- Andrew Khoo
- Beverly Joeman
- Syahid Abdullah
- Khoo Gaik Cheng
- Jac sm Kee
- Sonia Randhawa
- Show Ying Xin
- Sunitha Janamohanan
- Yap Swee Seng
- Nicholas Chan
- Chong Yee Shan
- Azwan Ismail
- Nursyuhaidah A Razak