Proceed with National Harmony Act and maintain Sedition Act — Shahrizat

KUALA The government should proceed with formulating the National Security Act but at the same time maintain and improve the Sedition Act 1948.

Wanita Umno Chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the National Harmony Act would promote and encourage harmony and respect in Malaysia’s plural society.

She said the act is more for fostering respect among different cultures and religions and has no element of punishment.

“The National Harmony Act can be drawn up to allocate provisions to encourage the spirit of Muhibbah and national harmony,” she said in her Wanita Umno Chief policy speech in conjunction with the Umno General Assembly 2014 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here yesterday.

At the same time, Shahrizat emphasised that the government should maintain the Sedition Act 1948 but make necessary improvement, taking into account the need to protect rights as contained in the Federal Constitution, to ensure the security of the people and country. She said elements of prevention and punishment on actions which could spark disharmony among races should also be maintained in the existing act.

The government had previously proposed to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 and replace it with a new act known as the National Harmony Act.

Shahrizat, who was elected as Wanita Umno Chief since 2009, recommended that irrelevant provisions in the Sedition Act 1948 be amended or taken out following the openess of the current Barisan Nasional leadership. She said provisions which prevented the people from criticising the government and administration could be abolished so the people have more opportunities to speak up. — Bernama