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MCA challenged to officially oppose OSA amendments
Published:  Feb 12, 2016 2:19 PM
Updated: 7:30 AM
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MCA has been challenged to state if it is prepared to officially propose amendments to the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA) following its Youth leader's criticisms this morning.

"What is MCA and MCA Youth's official stand on the (proposed) amendments to the OSA?

"If MCA is sincere in opposing the amendments, MCA should direct all its cabinet ministers, MPs and senators to oppose the OSA amendments in cabinet, Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara," said Perak DAP publicity bureau chief Chong Zhemin in a statement.

He was responding to MCA legal bureau chief Ng Kian Nam's comment that strengthening punishments under the OSA would push the country on the path towards a " communist state ".

"I could not agree more with (Ng's) statement... However, Malaysians would not forget how MCA Youth hoodwinked the people on the National Security Council (NSC) Bill last December.

"The MCA Youth legal bureau at that time described the NSC Bill as akin to dictatorship.

"MCA Youth chief Chong Sin Woon, however, played down the issue describing it as only the stand of MCA Youth legal bureau and not reflective of MCA Youth’s stand," said Chong.

In an interview last week, attorney-general (AG) Mohamed Apandi Ali told Sin Chew Daily he plans to increase punishments under the OSA which currently ranges from one to seven years in jail, to life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the rotan.

Apandi also wants journalists who refuse to divulge their sources of leaks to be punished as collaborators.

Pretending to oppose?

Chong questioned if MCA Youth is sincere in its criticisms or is merely "playing the same game by pretending to oppose" the draconian amendments.

Would MCA representatives support such amendments in cabinet or the House? he asked.

"It (would be) most hypocritical of MCA Youth to say one thing in front of the people but to vote the opposite way of what it tells the people," said Chong, who is also Perak DAP organising secretary and economic development bureau chief, and political secretary to Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming.

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