KUALA LUMPUR: The existing legal framework, particularly in addressing issues involving insults against religion and disrespect towards the royal institution, should be reviewed and strengthened to better suit today’s challenges, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
While freedom of speech must be upheld, he said it cannot be a pretext to insult religion, belittle the institution of the Malay Rulers or undermine the very foundation of national harmony.
As such, he said it is time to review and strengthen the country’s existing legal framework to ensure it remains relevant to current challenges.
Ahmad Zahid said the unease among the Malay community is growing deeper, as the sanctity of Islam and the dignity of the Malay Rulers continues to be openly challenged and attacked through various issues that stir public sensitivities.
He cited several concerns, such as insults against the word Allah, jokes that mock halal practices, objections to the azan or the Islamic call to prayer, and acts of disrespect towards the institution of the Malay Rulers.
“Islam is the religion of the Federation and the Malay Rulers are the pillars of national sovereignty.
“So when these two main pillars are disturbed, the people’s anxiety cannot be treated as a small matter,” he said at the Musyawarah Nasional (National Discourse) themed “Malay Unease: What Is the Solution?” here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Musyawarah Nasional is a strategic dialogue founded by Ahmad Zahid to foster national consensus and address challenges facing the Malay-Muslim community.
He said the unease felt by the Malay community extended beyond religion and royalty to the economy, education, national unity and Malay political stability.
On the economic front, Ahmad Zahid said the Malay community has yet to become strong enough as asset owners, despite making up the largest group of consumers and workers in the country.
“This is no longer just about aid or subsidies. It is about asset ownership, market control, supply chains and access to the future economy.”
On education, Ahmad Zahid said attention must be given to the mismatch between graduate qualifications and industry needs.
He also called for strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training as a key pathway for social mobility among the younger generation.
“The reality is that 35.8%, or 1.96 million higher education graduates, are working in semi-skilled or low-skilled jobs that do not match their qualifications.
“This shows that the education issue is no longer just about access to university, but about the alignment between knowledge, skills and industry needs,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said national unity must be strengthened, following a rise in racial sentiment and prejudice on social media that could erode social harmony.
“This unease is also evident when issues of language, identity and national heritage frequently cause unrest, from debates over heritage food, to national promotional narratives that fail to highlight Malay-Islamic roots, to the organisation of festivals that lack sensitivity toward local community values,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said Malay politics must return to reason, civility and strategy, not just to win elections but to ensure that the race continues to hold power to decide its own future.
