Official Secrets Act Malaysia Cases

The legislation is based on the official secrets act of the united kingdom.

Official secrets act malaysia cases. Osas are currently in force in hong kong india ireland myanmar malaysia singapore and the united kingdom and have previously existed in canada and new zealand there were earlier english and british precedents long before the acts enumerated here. Pandan mp rafizi ramli being brought for his remand hearing at the palace of justice putrajaya. This adds to the number of reported cases of members of the media being investigated and or charged under repressive laws since the change of government in march 2020 and may. As early as the 16th century following francis drake s circumnavigation queen elizabeth i d.

After criticism of the act for lacking clarity it was amended in 1986. Penalties for spying 4. Whoever knows what that means angkat tangan. Official secrets 3 laws of malaysia act 88 official secrets act 1972 arrangement of sections section 1.

This article examines the local decisions. June 26 the centre for independent journalism cij notes with concern today s questioning of codeblue editor in chief boo su lyn by the police reportedly under the official secrets act 1972 osa and penal code. The high court today dismissed pkr vice president rafizi ramli s appeal to set aside his conviction under the official secrets act osa. Declassification of official secret by a minister or a public officer 3.

Akta rahsia rasmi 1972 abbreviated osa is a statute in malaysia prohibiting the dissemination of information classified as an official secret. An official secrets act is legislation that provides for the protection of state secrets and official information mainly related to national security. Pix credit rafizi ramli facebook page kuala lumpur. If you raised your hand good.

The recent cases on the official secrets act have to a certain extent clarified and limited the scope of criminal liability under section 5 of the act. After the recent blowout over the leaked upsr papers many of you may have noticed a throwaway line at the bottom of most news articles reporting the leaks stating that suspects were being investigated under the official secrets act osa 1972. Justice azman abdullah in a brief oral judgment ruled in favour of the conviction by the sessions court last november for leaking the 1mdb report at a press conference at the parliament building in march last year. Pandan mp rafizi ramli was charged with two.

Appointment of public officer to classify official document etc. In malaysia almost everything is an official secret the conviction of an opposition lawmaker under malaysia s official secrets act has renewed calls for the law s repeal.