KUALA LUMPUR – Cabinet has agreed in principle to review the Sedition Act 1948 [Act 15] accordingly to ensure that it is used solely for the protection of the royal institution against provocative acts, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
In a statement, she said other aspects of the law involving provocation against race and religion will be reviewed accordingly as well.
She also said proposed amendments to the act will take into account national unity and harmony, the views of the royal institution as the Head of Islam, as well as best global practices and principles.
“Prime Minister’s Department’s (JPM) Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), in reviewing details of the Sedition Act 1948 [Act 15], will ensure the proposed amendments are properly intended to protect the royal institution holistically,” she said.
On Monday, Azalina said discussions and studies on laws relating to 3R (royalty, religion and race) issues including whether there is a need to introduce a new act would be tabled in the Cabinet at its meeting this week.
She said the presentation on the first phase of the study to the Cabinet would be made comprehensively before any other resolution is made.
Recently, Azalina was reported as saying that she would be holding the first meeting with relevant parties to examine and refine the proposal to draft a new act related to 3R.
Earlier, the media reported that the government was studying to create a new related act based on civil aspects, which may be called the State and Nation Act similar to the Racial Harmony Act in Singapore, and the proposal about it was presented at the Cabinet meeting.
Commenting further, Azalina said her party also needs to look comprehensively including the aspects of unity and the long term including elements of politics that use 3R if they want to create a new law related to the 3R.
She said that many people say that the existing law is sufficient, but that is in terms of criminal elements and now her ministry needs to conduct a comprehensive study from various angles, especially from the aspect of unity.
According to her, the government also continues to involve all stakeholders in considering the holistic direction of policy and legislation to be used as a guide for the administration in dealing with issues involving 3R. – July 25, 2023