KUALA LUMPUR: Any amendments to the Sedition Act or any law to replace it will not affect the core struggles of Umno, said party vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
In an interview with TV3 during its Soal Jawab programme, Hishammuddin assured members that Umno would continue to uphold Islam, the Malays and the monarchy, amid a spate of recent controversies, including the use of the word “Allah” among non-Muslims.
Detractors of the act had called for it to be repealed after several individuals, including politicians, were charged for making allegedly seditious statements.
The government had pledged to review the act.
Hishammuddin said many had misunderstood the spirit behind the act, which aimed to maintain peace, order, mutual respect and racial harmony, in line with Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.
“Many Malays are afraid that their rights, as enshrined under Article 153, will be affected if there is a change in the act. I want to assure them that Umno will continue to defend Islam, the Malays and the royal institution.
“We have our stand and will not be affected,” he said during the interview last night.
He said some quarters were wary of losing ground following a possible amendment to the act.
“Previously, you didn’t hear of people complaining or voicing concerns.
“But today, there is the Internet. We are living in a borderless world,” he said.
On the party’s move to include a Sunni clause — the term “Sunnah Wal Jamaah” — to replace the word “Islam” in its constitution, Hishammuddin said it was to bolster efforts to promote the image of Islam and to deter misappropriation of Islamic teachings by deviant groups.
He said with the dangers propagated by the Islamic State (IS) on a global scale, Umno was doing its part to curb the spread of deviant teachings in Malaysia.
Hishammuddin said IS had attracted thousands of converts from Western countries to join its cause in the Middle East.
“The world is watching Malaysia and Umno to see our approach in presenting Islam and what can we do to promote moderation.”