PUTRAJAYA: The government is deliberating four different viewpoints before deciding on the fate of the widely-debated Sedition Act 1948.
The Prime Minister’s office, in a statement, said the perspectives were based on discussions and feedback from relevant stakeholders who were either opposed or in favour of its abolishment.
It said a segment of the stakeholders had demanded the act be maintained with minor amendments, while another group had asked for its abolishment.
A third group suggested that the Sedition Act be replaced with the National Harmony Act to maintain national unity and the nation’s stability.
Another alternative view, it said, supported the formation of the new act while maintaining the enactment of the Sedition Act.
“The government however, wants to clarify that the National Harmony laws had yet to be drafted at present ,”
“The government is still in the discussion stages on the basic principles )of the National Harmony Act) that would serve as the guidelines in drafting the respective law,” the statement said.
It said the consideration also involved the consensus of the public, which included those from Sabah and Sarawak before the drafting process was conducted.
“The process will indeed take time to allow the impending new laws to realise our goals of building a stable, peaceful, and harmonious country.”