Malaysia passes new sedition laws that lift maximum jail term to 20 years

Malaysia's parliament yesterday 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.

The revised act also makes it illegal to propagate sedition on the internet, sparking concerns over possible web censorship.

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.

But after a poor showing in those polls, Najib's government has targeted scores of its critics with the law.

"In order to realise our goal of building a stable, peaceful and harmonious state, the Sedition Act has been maintained," he said on Thursday in an interview on state-controlled television.