Malaysia’s Sedition Act 1948 has once again come under scrutiny amid a rise in enforcement. Between 2024 and 2025, a total of 90 cases were recorded under the law. Just this week, the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department advised the public to avoid engaging in social media debates that could be deemed unlawful. Originally enacted during the British colonial era, the Act criminalises speech, publications, or acts considered to have a “seditious tendency.” Does the law remain relevant or is it in fact detrimental to our democracy?

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