KUALA LUMPUR: The United Nations Human Rights high commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has urged Putrajaya to withdraw its proposed amendments to the Sedition Act 1948, warning that the new provisions would seriously undermine the freedom of expression and opinion in the country.

He said the proposals also breached the Federal Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.

Zeid also expressed concern about the tabling of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, saying that there were serious human rights shortcomings in the law.

“The UN Human Rights Office has long urged Malaysia to either repeal the Act or to bring it in line with international human rights standards.

“It is very disappointing that the government is now proposing to make a bad law worse.” — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on April 10, 2015.