'Black day' for free speech as Malaysia amends sedition law

[WorldNews]

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Malaysia's parliament early Friday approved tougher penalties for sedition in a move criticised by the United Nations and described by the opposition as "a black day" for democracy and free expression. For the second time this week, the ruling coalition pushed through legislation that has been denounced by rights and legal advocates, after it on Tuesday passed an anti-terrorism law that allows authorities to detain people without charge. The amendments to the Sedition Act extend the maximum jail term to 20 years from the current three years and establish a minimum three-year jail term for certain cases. Courting votes ahead of 2013 elections, Prime Minister Najib Razak had promised to scrap the British colonial-era Sedition Act, long viewed as a tool to gag free speech.

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