Sedition Act 1948 forum to be venue for an exchange of ideas and raising awareness

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Bar Committee will hold a forum on the Sedition Act 1948 and Human Rights in the country to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Karpal Singh.
Its chairman Shyama Nair told reporters today the forum would be held on April 18 at Dewan Sri Pinang and would provide an avenue for an exchange of ideas on the law as well as raise awareness among the people on how the law affected them.
Speakers at the forum, which begins at 9am, comprise QC Mark Trowell, retired Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar, Malaysian BAR president Steven Thiru, former BAR president Datuk S. Ambiga and Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom.
Attendance is by invitation and those interested can register with the committee before April 8.
Forum organising chairman Datuk Ranjit Singh said some of the issues to be addressed include the relevancy of the Act but stressed the forum was not aimed at labelling the law as good or bad.
He added legal views garnered from the forum will be forwarded to the Malaysian BAR for further action.
The late Karpal Singh, 74, was noted for his fight for human rights and democracy. He was killed in an accident involving his MPV and a lorry on April 17, 2014, at KM306.1 of the North South Expressway near Kampar, Perak.