Malaysian leader Mahathir vows to fix ‘draconian’ laws as activists decry slow pace of reforms

Last year, the government said it had identified 113 laws to be repealed, amended or drafted, but critics say very little progress has been made

The prime minister has finally come out and said he will amend the security offences law, just weeks after a dozen arrests were made under the legislation

Reading Time:4 minutes

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaks at a press conference after attending a parliament session in Kuala Lumpur on October 7. Photo: Nur Ain Shafinas/BERNAMA/dpa

Published: 8:27pm, 7 Nov 2019Updated: 3:02am, 8 Nov 2019

As Malaysia’s Pakatan Harapan administration reaches the 18-month mark in power, human rights watchdogs have questioned the slow pace of the government’s reforms.

Last year, the government said it had identified 113 laws to be repealed, amended or drafted, including laws that Malaysian civil society had long claimed violated fundamental liberties and international human rights standards, such as the colonial-era Sedition Act and the Security Offences Act.

On Tuesda, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad promised to amend the security offences law just weeks after a dozen arrests were made under the legislation.

Admitting the promise was delayed and nothing new – one of his pre-election pledges last May was to repeal a number of laws used to silence dissent among Malaysians – the premier said immediate action was needed on the issue.

Malaysian Prime MInister Mahathir Mohamad has been urged to pick up the pace on law reforms. Photo: Reuters

In early October, 12 individuals were arrested under the security offences law over alleged links to the now-defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a Sri Lankan Tamil political organisation active during the civil war. Malaysian authorities denied that the arrests triggered the move to amend the Security Offences Act.

Malaysian leader Mahathir vows to fix ‘draconian’ laws as activists decry slow pace of reforms

Last year, the government said it had identified 113 laws to be repealed, amended or drafted, but critics say very little progress has been made The prime minister has finally come out and said he will amend the security offences law, just weeks after a dozen arrests were made under the legislation