KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition Member of Parliament was yesterday ticked off by backbenchers from Sabah for trying to put them at loggerheads with the government over the amendments to the Sedition Act 1948.
The baits thrown by Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) were unsuccessful in winning over the backbenchers from Sabah, as he was castigated for trying to be a hero and championing the rights and welfare of the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
Datuk Marcus Mojigoh (BN-Putatan) who stood up to defend the elected representatives from Sabah stressed that they were not easily bought with money and would not throw away the mandate and trust given by the people in the state.
“Bagan (Lim Guan Eng) wants to be a hero so that the people in Sabah will listen. We are not buying, but we are here as the representatives of the people of Sabah, representing the people of Sabah, not Bagan.
“The Federal Government has never sidelined the interest and welfare of the people, in fact, it is always listening to the people in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He interrupted Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), who was debating the Sedition (Amendment) Bill 2015, to get the views of his fellow Sabahan colleagues on Lim’s statement when debating the same bill.
Earlier, Lim urged the elected representatives of Sabah and Sarawak to reject the bill as he regarded the amendments as a double standard due to a clause that any one who raises the issue of Sabah and Sarawak separating from Malaysia as seditious.
“However, on the other hand, if the people of Sabah and Sarawak are unhappy with the Federal Government..not respecting their rights, not distributing the economic profits equally…If they voice their disatisfaction, will they be regarded as inciting under this act,” questioned Guan Eng who was trying to lure the Members of Parliament from Sabah and Sarawak into his trap.
Commenting on Marcus’ interruption, Bung Mokhtar regarded Lim’s action as masquearading in public with a positive character but acting in the exact opposite.
He also denied the amendment of the act would oppress the people including the opposition, on the other hand said the move was to protect the welfare of the people and inter-racial unity in the country.
Datuk Othman Aziz (BN-Jerlun) also rose up to back Bung Moktar’s statement by stressing that the amendments to the act was to obstruct the effort of certain parties who abused the social media, such as to belittle and insult the national anthem.
“They are abusing creativity, there there are also efforts to set afire the feelings of Muslims who love the country.
Are we going to wait for quarrels between the races to erupt before taking action?,” he said.
Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah (BN-Lenggong) was also of the opinion that the amendment to the Sedition Act would not curb freedom of speech including speaking in public. — Bernama