Najib: Sedition Act to stay

Najib stressing a point in his speech at the general assembly in PWTC

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared at the Umno general assembly that the Sedition Act will not only be retained but strengthened to protect the sanctity of Islam and other religions.

Najib, who is Umno president, said in his policy speech at the annual meeting that the Act would also be enforced against those who called for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia.

"Having consulted with party leaders, including my deputy, vice-presidents, NGOs and the grassroots, as the Prime Minister, I have taken the decision to retain the Sedition Act.

"Do you agree?" he asked the delegates who stood up and gave him a resounding applause.

Najib said the act would be strengthened in at least two areas which the current law did not provide for security.

"I have analysed the Act and found that two provisions are not there. Firstly, the further preservation of the sanctity of Islam as the official religion and also prohibiting other religions from being insulted.

"Secondly, we will also include that action can be taken against those who insinuate that Sabah and Sarawak should leave Malaysia.

"Sabah, do you agree?" he said to further applause and cheers from the crowd.

The Prime Minister assured Malaysians that the enforcement of the act would be fair to ensure a more stable, peaceful, and harmonious nation for all.

Before he made the announcement, a video footage with clips of seditious postings by bloggers, social activist Hishammuddin Rais making a speech and sex blogger Alvin Tan's bak kut ten greetings was shown to the delegates.