Despite the repealing of the widely-used Internal Security Act (ISA) in September 2011, the Malaysian government still has several laws it can use at its disposal to reign in political dissent.

There are still in force laws that allow for detention without trial, either enacted or amended in the last three years, such as Prevention of Terrorism Act 2015, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the Prevention of Crime Act 1959.

Recently, both activists and politicians have been arrested under Sections 124B and 124C of the Penal Code - for "activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy" and "attempt to commit activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy", respectively.