NUCC law committee: Replacement laws for Sedition Act in AG’s hands now

By admin-s On Aug 30, 2014

(MMO) – The three proposed laws to replace the Sedition Act 1948 are now in the Attorney-General’s (AG) hands to act upon, the National Unity and Consultative Council (NUCC)’s member Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said.

When contacted, Mujahid expressed hope for Putrajaya’s smooth repeal of the decades-old law and roll out new laws which would be more effective in promoting harmony, but said this was beyond the NUCC’s powers.

“This is not within our jurisdiction. It is the jurisdiction of the AG and Cabinet,” said Mujahid yesterday, who co-chairs the NUCC’s law and policy committee tasked with studying the three proposed bills.

He was asked to comment on concerns over the status of the Sedition Act replacement bills, in light of the spike in the number of police investigations and prosecutions of Malaysians — especially opposition politicians — under this law.

According to Mujahid, his committee had already collected and presented public feedback over the three suggested laws to the full NUCC council and the AG.

But he clarified that the three draft bills were not to be considered as his committee’s “ready draft” but was merely “input” to the government.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers will be responsible for drafting the actual bills, before presenting them to the Cabinet and Parliament for approval, he said.