Najib repeals Sedition Act
The 1948 Sedition Act will be replaced by a new National Harmony Act, says the prime minister.
(FMT) – Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today announced the repeal of the Sedition Act in what he said was part of the government’s continued effort to improve civil liberties.
The 1948 law, which was often used to allegedly silence and intimidate opposition, is to be replaced with a new National Harmony Act, Najib said in a speech at the Attorney General’s Chambers dinner here.
The country’s sixth premier said the new act will safeguard the right to freedom of speech while protecting national unity by preventing the incitement of religious or ethnic hatred.
The move will likely be seen as another round of election push as Najib tries to redeem his ruling coalition’s record losses in 2008 general election at the upcoming national polls which must be held by April 2013.
