‘Don’t repeal Sedition Act’

The New Straits Times
by HANA NAZ HARUN

KUALA LUMPUR: THE government should not go ahead with the plan to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 until it holds more discussions with all concerned parties, including Wanita Umno.

The wing’s chief, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said the party would send a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to ask for a deferment in repealing the act.

“Many have come to us raising their concerns and anxiety regarding the situation in the country.

“The act must not be repealed to protect the people for the sake of national security and harmony and I believe the issue of peace and safety goes across all religions and races,” she said, adding that the memorandum would be handed to Najib after he returned from China.

She said it was important that the government took into account the views of everyone.

“They (the government) must listen to the rakyat who fear for their safety and peace in the country.

“The women in the country must also be consulted and our voice cannot be ignored in this,” Shahrizat said here, yesterday.

She also expressed concern that if the Sedition Act was replaced with the National Harmony Act, the latter would not be able to maintain the country’s sovereignty and stability.

Shahrizat had earlier attended a closed-door forum titled “Understanding the Sedition Act” with 500 Wanita Umno members, where they had unanimously agreed to request for the postponement to repeal the Act.

Among the panel members were former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan, as well as lawyers Salehuddin Saidin and Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz.

Shahrizat also said the women’s wing would begin a petition drive to collect one million signatures, to demonstrate the public’s support in retaining the act.

“Our 19,000 branches all over the country will be mobilised for this purpose. We aim to collect the signatures within the next two to three months.

“We will also organise forums and programmes for the public to give them further understanding of the risks if the Sedition Act is repealed.”

Several quarters within Umno had expressed their concern over the possible repeal of the Sedition Act, ahead of the party’s general assembly later this month.

The New Straits Times had reported yesterday that political observers, including former IGP Tun Hanif Omar and National Professors’ Council political cluster head Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak, had said that the law should be strengthened and not repealed.

They said repealing the act could lead to racial disharmony and disrupt peace in the country.