KUALA LUMPUR: Three new Bills, aimed at curbing the issue of racial and religious hatred in the country, will be tabled in Parliament soon.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affair Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said they are the Anti-Discrimination Act, National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Act and the Religious and Racial Hatred Act.
“These three Acts will be tabled and discussed further in Parliament on the next session.
“The presentation of the proposed Acts in curbing religious and racial polemics will not be able to be tabled at this session as there is a need to seek the approval of the Attorney General and the Cabinet.
“Panels made up of religious experts, academicians and legal experts will also be invited to refine these three Bills.
“The first discussion on this matter is expected to be held on July 31, which will be attended by more than 40 scholars,” he told the press at the Takfiri Extremists and Creating Divisions in the Muslim World seminar in University of Malaya today.
Mujahid also said that the government would ensure no legal overlap between the Sedition Act 1984 and the three new Acts.
“The three new Acts have been talked about since 2004, but were “buried” because the previous administration had refused to implement it.
“The existing law is too wide and ineffective in addressing religious and racial polemics, thus there is an urgent need to present these new Acts.
“Under the proposed Acts, legal action can be taken against both Muslim and Non-Muslim citizens who fanned hatred or insults towards other races or religions.” he said.