Article 19 said the Sedition Act has been “abusive and arbitrary” and did not belong in a modern and democratic society.

“It is a relic designed to protect arbitrary interests rather than uphold justice or democratic principles.

“It must be abolished as promised in Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto,” the group’s senior Malaysia programme officer, Nalini Elumalai, said in a statement today.

Nalini was responding to the arrest of Mukmin Nantang, the founder of Borneo Komrad, under the Sedition Act. He was subsequently released on police bail.

On June 25, Sabah police said it would be questioning Mukmin in connection with videos depicting the demolition of Bajau Laut homes.

Nalini said authorities should also stop targeting advocates for human rights of the most marginalised communities in the country with the Sedition Act.

Such actions not only suppress dissent but also perpetuate injustice and hinder progress towards a fair and inclusive society, she said.

She also echoed calls by Amnesty International Malaysia for the investigation against Mukmin to be dropped.

The eviction of the Bajau Laut community in Semporna, Sabah, earlier this month saw their stilt homes torn down in an operation that apparently targeted those living on seven islands in the region, including Pulau Bohey Dulang, Pulau Maiga, Pulau Bodgaya, Pulau Sebangkat and Pulau Sibuan.

Mukmin was reported as saying that men had arrived at the Bajau Laut community’s homes on June 4, and demolished and burnt their homes to drive them out.

Borneo Komrad also shared several videos of the alleged evictions on X, one of which showed several men pushing a dilapidated house until it collapsed.

However, Sabah tourism, culture and environment minister Christina Liew said the operation was carried out because of safety concerns following a shooting incident in Teluk Darvel and cross-border criminal activities in the area.