3 NEW ACTS TO CURB RACIAL, RELIGIOUS HATRED

THE Anti-Discrimination Act, the National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Act and the Religious And Racial Hatred Act will be tabled and discussed at the next parliamentary session, says minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of relig

LEGAL ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST MUSLIM AND NON-MUSLIM CITIZENS WHO FAN RACIAL, RELIGIOUS HATRED

THE FIRST DISCUSSIONS WILL BE HELD ON JULY 31, ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 40 SCHOLARS

RELIGIOUS AND LEGAL EXPERTS, AND ACADEMICIANS, WILL BE INVITED TO REFINE THESE BILLS

GOVT WILL ENSURE THERE IS NO OVERLAP BETWEEN THE PROPOSED ACTS AND THE SEDITION ACT 1984

THREE bills, aimed at curbing racial and religious hatred in the country, will be tabled in Parliament soon. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said they were the Anti-Discrimination Act, National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Act and the Religious and Racial Hatred Act.

“The three acts will be tabled and discussed at Parliament’s next session. The acts will not be tabled this session as the approvals of the attorney-general and the cabinet are needed.

“Panels comprising religious experts, academicians and legal experts will also be invited to refine the bills.

“The first discussion on this matter is expected to be held on July 31, which will be attended by more than 40 scholars,” he said at the Takfiri Extremists and Creating Divisions in the Muslim World seminar at Universiti Malaya here yesterday.

Mujahid, who is charge of religious affairs, said the government would ensure that there would be no overlap between the Sedition Act 1948 and the three acts.

“The three acts have been talked about since 2004, but were buried because the previous administration refused to implement it.

“The law is too broad and ineffective in addressing religious and racial polemics, thus there is an urgent need to present these new acts.

“Under the proposed acts, legal action can be taken against Muslim and non-Muslim citizens who insult or fan hatred at other races or religions.”

PIC BY MAHZIR MAT ISA Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (religious affairs) Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa (second from right) receiving a souvenir from Asia West East Centre president Professor Dr Syed Farid Alatas at the Takfiri Extremists and Creating Divisions in the Muslim World seminar at Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.