Bill Outdated and Poorly Drafted, Says Sayed-Khaiyum

The proposed Referendum Bill is under the spotlight, with concerns raised that it is not aligned with the realities of a modern society.

Making submissions to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum questioned the quality of the draft law, suggesting parts of it appear to come from an earlier period.

“It appeared to me, given some of the provisions, that it was probably taken out or copied from some other period in time,” he said.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum pointed out that the Bill makes reference to traditional tools such as loudspeakers, but makes no mention of digital platforms or electronic communication.

“And I think the fact that it makes no reference to any digital contraptions or uses of digital media is not a mention of that at all,” he said.

He said this raises concerns about how the law would operate in practice, given the way information is now shared and communicated.

The absence of any reference to digital communication is significant in today’s context, where information is largely shared online and younger generations rely heavily on social media and digital platforms to access and engage with public issues.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also questioned the overall drafting of the Bill, noting that several provisions appeared outdated and not aligned with current realities.

He told the Committee that the draft legislation may need to go back to the drawing board.