KUALA LUMPUR: The amendments to Sedition Act 1948 will be tabled at the current session of Dewan Rakyat.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the amendments were aimed at, among others, inserting the elements to protect the sanctity of Islam and other religions and inserting a provision to prosecute those who incite Sabah and Sarawak to leave Malaysia.
“Insya Allah (God willing) I will table the amendments to the Act during the current parliamentary session. Supports from all Members of Parliament are welcomed for the benefit of all,” he said in a written reply to Anuar Abd Manap (BN-Sekijang) at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
In July 2012, the Sedition Act was proposed to be abolished and replaced by a new law to be known as the National Harmony Act.
However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his winding up speech at the Umno General Assembly in November 2014 announced that not only the Act would be retained, but would also be strengthened to ensure the country’s peace, harmony and stability continue to be protected.
Meanwhile, Communication and Multimedia Ministry Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek in his written reply to Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (BN-Tasek Gelugor) said the amendments to the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission Act 1998 would be tabled in Parliament in October.
“The amendments to the two existing laws have taken into account several important provisions on the administration and enforcement aspects.
“In fact, the government has also organised a series of engagements with the stakeholders,” he said.
Shabudin had wanted to know about the government’s efforts in tackling abuse of social media to spread lies and allegation, as well as to commit cyber crimes.
Ahmad Shabery said the government had also taken strategic and more comprehensive moves, including prevention, enforcement and improvement of existing regulations, to ensure abuse of social media could be tackled in a holistic manner. — Bernama