Malay NGOs Say Keeping Sedition Act Will Protect Non-Malays
According to a group of 50 Malay NGOs, the Sedition Act is essential to protect the non-Malays.
By Mei Mei Chu — 12 Jun 2014, 06:27 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
A Group Of 50 Malay-Muslim NGOs Today Said That The Sedition Act Must Be Kept To Protect The Rights Of The Non-Malays
The Sedition Act must be retained to protect the rights of non-Malays and maintain the inter-racial harmony Malaysia has enjoyed for decades, a group of Malay-Muslim non-governmental organisations (NGOs) said today.
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"We Don't Want To Create Trouble For Non-Malays. We Are Trying To Protect Them."
“We don’t want to create trouble for non-Malays. We are trying to protect them. It’s not only for the Malays, but the legitimate rights of the non-Malays,” said Tan Sri Mohd Zaman Khan, chairman of the integrity bureau of the Malay Consultative Council (MPM).
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“We want to stress to the government that abolishing the Sedition Act is something that is unimaginable. These are vital laws that will guarantee peace, happiness, and progress in our country,” Zaman, who was also a former CID director, said after a meeting with Malay NGOs in Kuala Lumpur.
According To The Group, Abolishing The Sedition Act Would Allow Malaysians To Question Sensitive Issues And Thus Lead To Chaos
The group, which claims to represent 50 Malay NGOs, said replacing the controversial act with three new bills mooted by the National Unity Consultation Council (NUCC) would allow Malaysians to question sensitive issues that would eventually lead to chaos.
MPM constitutional and consultative bureau chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman said the Sedition Act prevented Malaysians from questioning Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which touched on the Malay special rights, Bahasa Melayu as the official language, citizenship and the position of the rulers.
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"If The New Bills Come Out, Everyone Will Question This And It Will Create Trouble," Former MAS Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman
Malay Consultative Council constitutional and consultative bureau chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman (right), and Tan Sri Mohd Zaman Khan (centre), MPM chairman of the integrity bureau say today that the Sedition Act should not be replaced by three bills mooted by the National Unity Consultation Council.
Image via themalaysianinsider.com“We have identified that if you question that, it will create trouble. Now these new bills they propose have taken that out. If the new bills come out, everyone will question this and it will create trouble,” said the former Malaysia Airlines chairman.
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When Asked About The Maturity Of Malaysians To Discuss Such Issues, 'Muslim Consumers Association Malaysia' Says Emotions Could Overwhelm Anyone's Maturity
Abdul Kareem of Muslim Consumers Association Malaysia said the Sedition Act was a “time-tested ingredient” to protect Malaysians, and removing this “fundamental safety net” would be courting serious trouble.
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When asked if he did not believe Malaysians were mature enough to discuss such issues, Abdul said emotions could overwhelm anyone’s maturity. “When we talk about emotions, maturity goes into the waste basket. Look at the slaughtering of Palestinians, funded by America – are we saying that America is not mature? Maturity is a different proponent altogether.”
He also dismissed accusations that the Sedition Act was used as a tool to persecute opposition politicians and anti-Barisan Nasional activists, saying that those quarters had “vested interests”.
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