Former chief justice: Do not abolish Sedition Act

(Bernama) – The Sedition Act 1948 should not be abolished as it is seen as a barrier to curb acts to instigate the people on matters pertaining to the position of Islam and that of the Malays and the bumiputera.

Former Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad said by abolishing the act, it would mean allowing those who are not happy with it to incite others.

“There are people who want the act to be abolished because they have begun to create a rift among the Malays, influencing the Malay leaders to work with them and causing the Malay votes to split.

“When this act is abolished, it will be seen as a victory for them,” he said when tabling a working paper, with the title “Mempertahankan Perlembagaan Sebagai Asas Perpaduan Nasional” at a Islamic Discourse here today.

He said the sedition Act should be retained to uphold the country’s constitution.

He said Malay leaders, regardless of their political affiliation, should unite and defend Islam, the Malay interest and the Federal Constitution.

“We have to strengthen the federal government. PAS should work with Umno and BN at the federal level,” he added.

Abdul Hamid also questioned why the proposed Harmony Bill to replace the Sedition Act would be under the National Unity Department as the Sedition Act came under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry.

The discourse, organised by Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM), is attended by about 200 representatives from various Malay non-governmental organisations, including Perkasa and the Muslim Consumers Association.