KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 — The decision by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak to maintain and improve the Sedition Act 1948 shows that the act is still relevant to strengthen unity and racial harmony in the country, said several Umno leaders.Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said the announcement by the prime minister would eliminate the existence of groups who were not satisfied and wanted to see disunity in the country.”Some of the do not stop inciting that majority of the people in Sabah and Sarawak want the two states to leave Malaysia,” he added.
Another Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the announcement by Najib to maintain the Sedition Act was a gift for the Malaysian people in conjunction with this year’s Umno general assembly.
She said solidarity emphasised by the prime minister in his speech should be absorbed and strengthen in all Umno activities.
Wanita Umno leader Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the decision to maintain the Sedition Act was in line with what the movement had been fighting for. The effort by the movement in collecting a million signatures in a move to get the government to not abolish the act had been successful with the announcement by the prime minister on Thursday, she added.
Meanwhile, Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said the decision to maintain the Sedition Act and to improve the law was proof of Najib’s firmness.
“Najib has to be firm in everything that has and being planned to ensure the agenda can be achieved.
“If there is no act, like a yoyo because the irresponsible ones will take advantage to play up various issues,” he added.
Former Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Sakaran Dandai said the additional new provisions to be included in the Sedition Act were necessary to safeguard peace in the country.
“Those who incite have to be punished because we want the people to live in peace and harmony,” he added.
— BERNAMA
