When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak made the announcement last week on the government’s decision to maintain and strengthen the Sedition Act 1948 at the UMNO 68th general assembly, it was received with thunderous applause from its members.
It was clear that UMNO members and leaders were all for the Act to be maintained and not repealed as Najib had promised earlier in 2012.
The Barisan Nasional component parties, not wanting to be outdone, were also full of praise for Najib and his ‘brave’ move in retaining the Sedition Act.
Najib had said at the PPP (Peoples Progressive Party) convention on Sunday that he had decided to maintain the Act, because his party, UMNO, wants it to be.
“I have been following the developments. Why did I choose this occasion to make the announcement? Because I want all UMNO members to congregate and as the party president, I am answerable to all party members,” he said.
“If the voices of Umno want the Sedition Act maintained, then I choose to maintain it,” he added.
Now, Sedition Act is not a political party matter or something to be dished out to party members as a ‘gift’.
Instead of turning it into a matter of law that offers protection to Malaysians, the announcement made at the UMNO assembly had turned into a party affair – an act done to satisfy UMNO leaders and members who have been vocal against the abolishment of the Act.
The Prime Minister had also said the Act was necessary to protect the sanctity of all religions and would be used against those who called for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia.
Now, the government may still see a need for the Act but the manner the announcement was made and done did not help.
The Act may have its benefits in a multi-racial, multi-religious society like Malaysia, but instead of becoming a tool to keep racial tensions at bay and to protect religious sensitivities, it is now seen that the decision to maintain the Act was to make one particular party and its leaders happy.
It even lent credibility to former Information Minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin claims in his blog that the Prime Minister’s future in the party would have been buried if the announcement to retain the Act was not made.
UMNO Penang chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman was also quoted saying the party over 20,000 branches had reached a consensus that the Act should be maintained.
It is also not a secret that Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former UMNO president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad were against the idea of repealing the Act.
The racial and religious tensions in the country is indeed running high and tighter laws are needed to charge those who incite religious hatred but the government need to be seen doing so in the right approach and intent.
And announcing the decision to maintain and strengthen the Sedition Act at a government ground instead of a political party scene would have been a better start.
It was clear that UMNO members and leaders were all for the Act to be maintained and not repealed as Najib had promised earlier in 2012.
The Barisan Nasional component parties, not wanting to be outdone, were also full of praise for Najib and his ‘brave’ move in retaining the Sedition Act.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak giving his keynote address during the 68th UMNO General Assembly
Najib had said at the PPP (Peoples Progressive Party) convention on Sunday that he had decided to maintain the Act, because his party, UMNO, wants it to be.
“I have been following the developments. Why did I choose this occasion to make the announcement? Because I want all UMNO members to congregate and as the party president, I am answerable to all party members,” he said.
“If the voices of Umno want the Sedition Act maintained, then I choose to maintain it,” he added.
Now, Sedition Act is not a political party matter or something to be dished out to party members as a ‘gift’.
Instead of turning it into a matter of law that offers protection to Malaysians, the announcement made at the UMNO assembly had turned into a party affair – an act done to satisfy UMNO leaders and members who have been vocal against the abolishment of the Act.
The Prime Minister had also said the Act was necessary to protect the sanctity of all religions and would be used against those who called for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia.
Now, the government may still see a need for the Act but the manner the announcement was made and done did not help.
The Act may have its benefits in a multi-racial, multi-religious society like Malaysia, but instead of becoming a tool to keep racial tensions at bay and to protect religious sensitivities, it is now seen that the decision to maintain the Act was to make one particular party and its leaders happy.
It even lent credibility to former Information Minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin claims in his blog that the Prime Minister’s future in the party would have been buried if the announcement to retain the Act was not made.
UMNO Penang chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman was also quoted saying the party over 20,000 branches had reached a consensus that the Act should be maintained.
It is also not a secret that Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO Deputy President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former UMNO president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad were against the idea of repealing the Act.
The racial and religious tensions in the country is indeed running high and tighter laws are needed to charge those who incite religious hatred but the government need to be seen doing so in the right approach and intent.
And announcing the decision to maintain and strengthen the Sedition Act at a government ground instead of a political party scene would have been a better start.
