Umno MP doubtful of unity laws, says Sedition Act should be kept
(Malay Mail Online) – An Umno lawmaker said today the Sedition Act should be retained but used judiciously, as the fresh laws mooted to replace it may fall short of expectations.
Singling out the new laws’ focus on fostering national unity, Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said such values could not be forced on Malaysians.
“It is like forcing people to conform to a religion… it is unnecessary for the government to legislate national unity,” Nur Jazlan told reporters in Parliament today.
“It should be born out of a voluntary desire… you can put the unity bills in place but it will not solve the question of national unity unless you inculcate in the people that harmonious feeling,” he said.
But in retaining the Sedition Act, a controversial 1948 British-enacted legislation often used to silence opposition dissent, the Umno lawmaker said the authorities should only rely on it as the last resort “when things get out of hand”.
On Monday, the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) mooted three bills to avoid and reduce racial and religious conflicts in the country.
The council is in the process of compiling public feedback on Racial and Religious Hate Crimes Bill, National Harmony and Reconciliation Bill and National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Bill, which can be accessed on its website www.nucc.my.
Nur Jazlan pointed out that initiatives like the National Service Training Programme, implemented in 2003 to improve race relations, have not been effective in fostering unity despite the government having spent millions.
Similarly, he noted that the government had repealed the Internal Security Act (ISA) and replaced it with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) but “national security is still a problem”.
“You still hear about incidents leading to national disunity and racial hatred,” he said.
“There was a reason why those laws succeeded in the past, even when it was deemed as draconian, archaic and undemocratic, Malaysia still progressed and our economy grew, political maturity grew, institutions flourished,” said Nur Jazlan.
He said the government should focus instead on policies that promote integration.
“If Barisan Nasional wants to continue to lead the country we have to show leadership. Our forefathers manage to do it even after the Second World War, the Communist insurgency and May 1969 riot.
“Right now there is too much politics on everything,” added Jazlan.
