Former deputy higher education minister Saifuddin Abdullah’s proposal for the Sedition Act to be replaced by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC)’s proposed Bill has earned him the ire of an Umno minister.
Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan said that by publicising their views on the Act, Saifuddin (left) and NUCC had overstepped its bounds.
“I disagree with Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah's view that the proposed National Harmony Act to replace Sedition Act will be based on NUCC's version.
“I believe NUCC was only tasked to give their inputs on the proposed new law, not drafting the entire provisions of the Act.
“NUCC's views should be presented to the government for consideration. Right now Saifuddin talks as if the NUCC's draft is final. That's wrong,” he said in a series of tweets yesterday.
Abdul Rahman’s (right) comments come after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said that the government will “review” whether it should repeal the Act described by human rights groups as archaic and draconian.
Najib had in 2012 promised to repeal the Act, but has come under pressure from right-wing groups, including cabinet minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob, who believe doing away with it will cause chaos.
Proponents of the act also argue that repealing the Act will create a free-for-all of remarks against the royal institution and special position of Malays.
They also spoke out against the NUCC, whose proposed draft of the Bill includes criminalising race-based discrimination.
NUCC’s proposed Bill was uploaded onto its website for public feedback before submission to the government.
Abdul Rahman said “splashing the contents” of its proposed Bill to the public “causes confusion" and that NUCC must first submit it for cabinet deliberation.
“In fact, I don't think NUCC has the mandate to talk to public about their proposed National Harmony Bill,” he said.
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