(April 10): Malaysians are now experiencing what the Russians went through under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin in the early 1900s, a former Umno minister warned today, as Putrajaya tightened its reins on freedom of expression by "strengthening" the draconian Sedition Act.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who was former law minister, also said that Malaysia was the only country that made it a very serious offence to exercise freedom of expression, even comparable to a murder offence.

"You are treated like a terrorist. No other country in the world puts religion in the public sphere and makes it a central part of government policy, knowing it will cause racial and religious divide.

“Yet declares any comment on religion, which is inevitable if you want to talk about the policy, can be an act of sedition.

"The noose is getting tighter. We are experiencing what the Russians endured when Stalin was in power. We might be looking at one of our own," he said in his blog today.

Stalin was one of Russia's most known leaders, ruling the Soviet Union for more than two decades in the early 20th century. He was famed for curtailing freedom of expression and imposing a reign of terror although he helped defeat Nazism.

After more than 12 hours of heated debate, Dewan Rakyat last night passed amendments to the Sedition Act, some three years after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak promised to repeal the controversial law.

The amendments include removing criticism of the government or the administration of justice as something seditious, and making promoting hatred between different religions an offence.

The amendments also do away with fines, with a jail term of between three and seven years, as well as up to 20 years of imprisonment for seditious acts or statements that lead to bodily harm and property damage.

There is also no leniency for first-time and youthful offenders, who can be automatically slapped a minimum three-year sentence.

Opposition MPs had mounted a fierce campaign to stop the changes, saying the law was open to abuse due to vagueness of the term “sedition”.

However, they were outnumbered and the amendments were passed by a vote of 108 to 79.

Hitting out at Putrajaya while praising Pakatan Rakyat, Zaid said that the parliamentary debate on the draconian law meant nothing to the Barisan Nasional-led federal government.

"Everything was pushed through and passed. This time the Pakatan Rakyat MPs showed guts and were more serious, they debated the issues well and forcefully, and were in the Dewan in full force when the vote was taken.

"Let the Barisan Nasional hangers-on use their brute majority to push it down your throats, but the opposition must be proud in trying to defend whatever little freedom we have."

Only seven PR MPs were absent during the vote compared with 26 who were absent when yet another controversial law – Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) – was passed in the Dewan Rakyat in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

Zaid said the amendments to the Sedition Act proved that Malaysians were each becoming a "prisoner of the current regime", adding that the people would all be "dead men walking" with the new additions to the law.

"This is how fascist governments have worked throughout history. They use their power to create chaos, then use their laws to send people to jail, so as to ensure total obedience.

"Our government says we need the amended Sedition Act to maintain harmony in the country, but it is their policies and actions that cause disharmony. They started it all."

He was referring to Putrajaya's justification for putting in the amendments, which drew criticism from civil society and opposition politicians, all of whom accused Putrajaya of trying to further stifle freedom of speech.

Putrajaya had said that recent events showed that the draconian law was relevant in tandem with recognition of the need for enhancement and safeguard against its misuse to stem legitimate criticism of the government and discussion of issues of concern to Malaysians.

"Among the issues of concern are the increasingly harmful and malicious comments, postings and publications that jeopardise the valued ideals of Malaysia – tolerance, racial and religious harmony."

However, Zaid said that there was no lack of harmony before Najib came to power, adding that things would be different if people were not bound and stifled.

"It’s the leaders who created chaos by their racist policies and actions which then cause anger, and deep polarisation in the country," he said.

"From that chaos, and divisions within the community, they then impose more stringent laws that threaten our personal liberties. These laws are made not to maintain harmony, but to maintain the government in power."

He also told BN lawmakers to not "be so smug" about their victory in passing the amendments, warning them that the laws could also be applied to them.

"Let me remind you what the law means. Let’s say your sister is entangled in a custody dispute and is unable to see her children because her ex-husband is not interested in following court orders.

"Let’s say you criticise the judge or shortcomings in the administration of the courts. Under the proposed amendments, you can be charged for sedition because you would be deemed to be promoting public ill will towards that religion. Off you go to prison for five years or more," he wrote.

"Non-Muslims must also be prepared to serve time. Even if you are from MCA or Gerakan, don’t think you have immunity.

"If you analyse Article 153 of the Constitution; or try to understand how the quota system works in higher education, and your views lead to police reports being lodged by Isma and Perkasa (the higher the number of reports against you, the higher the chances of prosecution), then you too could be charged for creating ill will and hatred amongst the races."

Zaid had previously warned that leaders who have "wronged" the country should not use the colonial-era law to "shield" them from their wrongdoings.

He said oppressive means to stifle dissent would not be popular, adding that it was a matter of time before the legislation was abolished.

"All I can say is that the people of this country do not need the Sedition Act. This law is used to prevent people like you and me from talking about abuses that affect our country," he said.

"Najib and his friends must remember that the people always win against corrupt and oppressive leaders, no matter how much force is used to suppress their will. It’s just a matter of time." – The Malaysian Insider