KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri yesterday confirmed that she had received three preliminary drafts on the National Harmony Act to replace the Sedition Act 1948, but these had not yet been brought to the cabinet.
She said the three drafts received from the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) must first be studied
and fine-tuned to ensure they were in line with the Federal Constitution and also not in conflict with other elements like religion, culture, government policies and the rights of the rulers.
“I have received three drafts of the proposed bill, but it does not mean that the government will straight away accept them or the cabinet has agreed to these.
“It’s a new bill…not amendments. A new bill will take a long time (to be finalised). This is because it must be in tune with the Federal Constitution and we will also not disregard the privileges of the rulers under the constitution,” she said at a news conference at Parliament building, here, yesterday.
Earlier, in her written reply to Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor), Nancy said the Sedition Act 1948 was still effective for as long as there was no new act replacing it.
She said until now, the government had not decided when exactly the Sedition Act would be repealed as the new act was still being studied from all aspects.
“I feel it is inappropriate to fix a date for the completion of the bill.
“When we fix a deadline, we will be putting unnecessary pressure, which is something we do not want and is inappropriate even when we’re aiming for perfection,” she said.
In his question, Irmohizam asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to state whether the overnment planned to introduce the Racial Vilification Act 1966, implemented in Australia, to prevent incitement against race and religion.
Nancy said for the new act (National Harmony Act), prevention of incitement, sowing of hatred, and serious
disparaging or extreme ridiculing involving race and religion would be given due attention. — Bernama