Malaysia’s SOSMA vs USA Patriot Act… Which one is worse?

[Ed’s note, 31 July 2018: This article was initially written in December 2014, so the ‘ministers’ written below refer to those from the previous government (Barisan Nasional). Newly (re)elected Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir, has also recently called for the abolishment of the SOSMA Act.] 

Malaysia was commented on by a national leader from the US on Twitter. Oh no! Whadhesay? Pretty sure you guys know these 2 tweets from Joe Biden, Vice President of the US, and given your own 2 sen to friends adi.

First he tweeted:

Amid growing U.S.-Malaysia ties, Malaysian govt’s use of legal system & Sedition Act to stifle opposition raises rule of law concerns. -vp

— Vice President Biden (@VP) December 4, 2014

Then he tweeted: 

Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal gives Malaysia a vital chance to make things right and promote confidence in its democracy & judiciary. -vp — Vice President Biden (@VP) December 4, 2014

OH NO HE DIDN’T!! And cue the backlash. So Joe’s…may we call you Joe?… comments clearly hit a nerve with some people and The Star reported on the retorts from our Ministers:

“Stop meddling in our judiciary and stop telling us what to do. We will not hesitate to sever ties if they continue to meddle in our internal affairs.” – Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, Tourism & Culture Minister, The Star

“Closing Guantanamo gives the US a vital chance to make things right and promote confidence in its democracy and judiciary.” – Khairy Jamaluddin, Youth & Sports Minister, The Star

We’re very interested in what Khairy said. N’fact it seems we’ve been very interested in everything Khairy these days.

What’s the difference between SOSMA & Patriot Act?

Khairy was referring to Guantanamo Bay detention camp (GTMO), a US military prison in Cuba blackened by rumours of abuse and torture of prisoners, in what Free Malaysia Today described as ‘comparing apples with oranges’. Basically, experts have agreed that detainees captured in the War on Terror are sent to GTMO, although some totally deny the connection between the Act and the camp. By default, America’s War on Terrorism falls under the USA PATRIOT Act.

What are the similarities or differences between Malaysia’s Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) and the Patriot Act? Which one less teruk? So in an Ultimate Battle, let’s see which one would you be more likely to survive.

Sources: 1 Astro Awani, 2 The Nut Graph, 3 Wikipedia, 4 Concerned Citizens Against The Patriot Act, 5 Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, 6 Electronic Frontier Foundation, 7 Consortium News.

And between the Malaysia & US’ Sedition Act?

So SOSMA is the WINNER of this battle! Though there are some similarities and some differences between the 2 Acts, the Patriot Act has shown itself to be more messed up…SO FAR. The Patriot Act has rounded people for the most ‘terroristically’ obscure ‘crimes’.

OK next battle – Malaysia and the US’ Sedition Act…………. wait. America-Land-of-the-Free has a Sedition Act?!

*Google loading*

Oh right, the 1918 one that was repealed in… 1920. Chehhhhh.

So anti-climax wan? Because