A law proposed by the Malaysian government to protect the monarchy from insults, if enacted, will violate the right of freedom of expression and Malaysia's own constitution, an international human rights organization said in a statement on Friday
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th January, 2019) A law proposed by the Malaysian government to protect the monarchy from insults, if enacted, will violate the right of freedom of expression and Malaysia's own constitution, an international human rights organization said in a statement on Friday.The statement comes after the authorities of Malaysia, which is a constitutional monarchy, announced on Thursday that the government was thinking of enacting a new legislation with heavier punishments for insulting the country's hereditary rulers.
"A law imposing criminal penalties for criticizing the monarchy would violate international standards for freedom of expression ... Moreover, a law to protect the royalty from mere insults would appear to violate Malaysia's own Constitution. Malaysia's Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and expression," the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said.
The rights watchdog also criticized Malaysia for delaying the ratification of the international convention against racial discrimination and restoring the use of the "draconian" Sedition Act of 1948, describing it as a "a big step backward on the road to reform."
