DAP says Hadi free to criticise, but must avoid slander and sedition

DAP leadership has clarified that PAS president Hadi Awang is welcome to criticise the party, provided his remarks do not cross into defamation or breach sedition laws. The statement comes after police recently recorded Hadi's statement regarding writings that targeted DAP.

Party officials emphasised the distinction between legitimate political discourse and statements that could constitute slander or sedition under Malaysian law. They stressed that robust debate between political parties is a normal feature of democratic discourse, but such exchanges must operate within established legal frameworks.

The incident underscores ongoing tensions between PAS and DAP, who compete for different voter constituencies across Malaysia's political landscape. While political parties have traditionally engaged in sharp criticism of one another, the involvement of law enforcement in investigating the PAS president's statements has highlighted the sensitive nature of certain forms of political expression.

DAP's position reflects a broader principle that while freedom of expression remains important for political parties to articulate their positions and challenge opponents, such freedoms are not absolute under Malaysian law and cannot extend to defamatory or seditious content.

The clarification suggests an attempt by DAP to establish ground rules for political competition while maintaining channels for dialogue between rival parties on substantive policy and ideological matters.