KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) said the Sedition Act 1948 should be retained because the spread of information is easily done via the social media.
Its president, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman reiterated the Sedition Act was needed to curb the spread of information that could threaten racial harmony in multi-racial Malaysia.
“The Sedition Act is needed today and in future, because we do not want some people to insult the religion, the sultan or twist things enshrined in the constitution,” he told reporters after presenting the book titled ‘100 Wira Negara’ written by him at the Royal Military College (RMC), Sungai Besi Camp here yesterday.
Also present were Mubarak information chief and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Sulaiman and RMC Commandant Col Wan Ghazali Wan Din.
Abdul Aziz said Mubarak was planning to produce an animation programme on heroes in 100 Wira Negara after the success of producing a 13-episode programme for television broadcast this year.
“The animation programme is important to draw the interest of children so that they do not forget the deeds of leaders who contributed to the country before independence.
“Understanding of character via animation is also much easier and more attractive for the children,” he said, adding Mubarak was considering the company to produce the programme next year.
‘100 Wira Negara’ is in recognition of icons who impacted the country, including the six Malaysian prime ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Also featured are Royal Prof Ungku Abdul Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid, Tan Sri Arshad Ayub, Dr Aminuddin Baki (education), Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan (economy), Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, Datuk Nicol David, Tan Sri Dr M Jegathesan (sports), Tan Sri P Ramlee and Datuk Sudirman Arshad (astiste).
The book is published in Malay and English and 15,000 copies have been distributed to schools and National Service Training Programme (PLKN) camps nationwide.
Those who are interested can buy the 300-page book priced at RM50 via www.mubarakmalaysia.gov.my. — Bernama