Yesterday's Federal Court finding that Sedition Act 1948 is constitutional only shows that the country's highest law is "antiquated" and no longer applicable, said political cartoonist Zunar.
The apex court found the Act to be constitutional , after a challenge by law lecturer Azmi Sharom who is facing a sedition charge for giving his expert opinion on the Perak constitutional crisis.
Azmi argued that the law, inherited by the colonial rulers, is incompatible with Article 10 of the federal constitution which safeguards freedom of expression.
"The courts are emboldening the government to use the Sedition Act against critics. There is no more hope for justice through the courts...
"This further constraints the already limited freedom of speech and expression in Malaysia. We're speeding in reverse. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is heading to the Mugabe era.
"I thus suggest the federal constitution be placed in the museum and displayed as an antique material," he snidely said in a statement.
Zunar is among more than 200 arrested under the Sedition Act over the past year.
The International Press Freedom Award recipient faces nine charges of sedition, among others for tweets allegedly criticising the judiciary following the sodomy conviction of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in February.
His latest book, ' Sapuman ', is also being probed for sedition.
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