The chairman of the National Unity Consultative Council’s (NUCC) working committee on law and policy says Putrajaya will definitely find the “improvements” it seeks in the law proposed to replace the Sedition Act 1948.
NUCC council member Datuk Dr Mujahid Rawa, who is also the PAS member of Parliament for Parit Buntar, insisted that the council’s proposed National Harmony Bill, and the two supplementary bills accompanying it, is a clear improvement on the Sedition Act, as they focus on harmony instead of sedition.
“As far as the doctrine is concerned, we consider this (new) Act as harmony. Sedition is negative, so we start off with something positive,” he told The Malay Mail Online‘s Joseph Sipalan.
“The very definition of sedition itself has opened up the gates of hell, where the government can practice total and absolute power on the people who they think is threatening them.
“The whole idea is to protect freedom of speech, not to protect the government,” Mujahid added.
On Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stressed that the Federal Government would act judiciously in handling the issue of maintaining the Sedition Act, or to replace it with another law.
Despite his oft-repeated promise to repeal the Sedition Act as part of his raft of legislative reforms more than two years ago, Najib said the Sedition Act may not be repealed if the move does not result in any “improvement”.
Najib also stated he understood the concerns of the Malaysian Malay community in the matter, as the potential repeal of the Sedition Act might have repercussions on the position of Islam, the Malay Rulers, and special Bumiputera privileges.
“If it is not better, why should we take such measures; it is inappropriate of any reforms if it does not result in improvement,” the prime minister was quoted as saying in Putrajaya.
In countering the PM’s statements, Mujahid said that a change in legislation will mean little if it is not accompanied by a change in governmental and societal mindsets.
“You cannot be saying I only want to see improvement in the law, but neglect the whole scenario of open debate, democratic space, the understanding of the Federal Constitution… you know very well that the law in itself does not solve many problems.
“The law is there to enforce, but (national unity) is more of the culture, how political will takes place, how we think of unity. That always comes together when we talk of improvements,” he said.
Mujahid also hit out at the defenders of the Sedition Act, mostly representing conservative Malay-Muslim rights groups and including former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who contend that the law’s repeal will open the doors to attacks on Bumiputera special privileges, the Malay Rulers, and the position of Islam.
He said the continued application of the Sedition Act will see the Government mimicking colonial-era top-down rule that allows arbitrary interpretation of what constitutes sedition.
“The conservatives and right-wing groups are not helping the PM much. If they keep on pressuring the PM not to repeal the Sedition Act and the PM listens to them, this country will not go forward… I beg the PM to listen to the moderate voices, because they are the majority,” Mujahid said.
See Also:
Law Minister: replacement for Sedition Act still being drafted, two years on
UMNO Youth: Preserve Sedition Act’s protection for Malay special rights
We probably won’t be getting that National Harmony Bill this year
Minister: Sedition Act to stay … for now
PM Najib: Government will be judicious in replacing the Sedition Act
