‘Retain essence of Sedition Act’

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KOTA KINABALU: The Sedition Act 1948 is meant to safeguard public order and national security, according to Sabah State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Salleh Tun Said.

“Whether the government maintains or chooses to repeal the Act, the essence of it which emphasises on preserving peace must be retained,” he told reporters here yesterday after a forum.

He was a panellist in the forum involving higher learning institution students, organised jointly by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Ministry’s Information Analysis and Management division and the Information department.

Salleh who is Usukan assemblyman, said even though the people in the country were accorded freedom of speech, there must be some restrain to protect the interests of the respective communities.

“No country in the world gives absolute freedom to its citizens to speak or act unrestrained at the expense of peace,” he said. — Bernama