This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on June 12, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Oppressive laws in Malaysia may be seeing their final days with Tommy Thomas as the Attorney-General (AG), opined Bar Council president George Varughese.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with the AG, Varguhese said he believed that Thomas is “agreeable” to look into the Bar Council’s suggestion to repeal certain acts, as the nation undergoes a much-needed legal reform.

The laws include the Sedition Act 1948, Anti-Fake News Act 2018, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the National Security Council Act 2016, Varughese said.

“I believe he is [agreeable to repeal those acts].

“In fact, for example, he did indicate that the Anti-Fake News Act will definitely be repealed. But he was agreeable to look at all our proposals,” Varughese said.

The Bar Council had previously submitted a proposal to the Committee on Institutional Reforms to repeal these acts, and amend several others.  

One of the suggestions by the AG was to have a great repeal act to repeal them at one go, Varughese said.

“We are proposing that there should be an independent law commission to look into the coming up of new acts or amending acts,” Varughese added.  

The Bar Council also called on the AG to look into merging the two government agencies that provide legal aid in Malaysia.