`


THERE IS NO GOD EXCEPT ALLAH
read:
MALAYSIA Tanah Tumpah Darahku

LOVE MALAYSIA!!!


 


Monday, July 8, 2013

Ka Siong admits split in Cabinet on Sedition Act: Najib's promise no use without consensus!

Ka Siong admits split in Cabinet on Sedition Act: Najib's promise no use without consensus!
UPDATED VIDEO INSERTED KUALA LUMPUR - MCA leader Wee Ka Siong has admitted a split in the Cabinet over Prime Minister Najib Razak's promise to abolish the draconian Sedition Act, confirming a widening rift in the ranks of the ruling Barisan Nasional coaliton.
"Some say yes, some say no. We should have a consensus, otherwise it is no use even if the Prime Minister has promised to abolish it," Ka Siong told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday.
Ka Siong also said the MCA would stand by its call to abolish the unfair, although many of his more hard line colleagues in Parliament clearly opposed the move.
BN leaders, especially those in Umno, believe the removal of the Sedition Act would weaken their grip over the country. They fear its removal would give greater democratic space to the people and advance the cause of the Opposition, which won the popular vote (51% to the BN's 47%) in the recently-concluded general election.
Critics have long demanded the removal of the Sedition Act, which they claim has often been used by the police and the government to imprison Opposition politicians as well as other civilian suspects so as to deter political dissension as well as make 'life easy' for the police when it comes to remanding criminals in cases that were tough to prove.
Zahid's cat among the pigeons: 'Chicken' MIC ambivalent
Last week, Home Minister Zahid Hamidi put a cat among the pigeons when he openly opposed the abolition of the Sedition Act, in a move seen as a prelude by Najib's rivals within Umno to oust him from the party presidency.
Inspector General of Police Khalib Abu Bakar had immediately backed up Zahid's call, saying that the abolition of the Internal Security Act as well as the Emeregency Ordinance had resulted in an increase in crime as more than a 1,000 'hardened criminals' were freed following the uplifting of the oppressive legislation.
MIC deputy president S Subramaniam was ambivalent about his party's stand on the Sedition Act. According to him, MIC would support either the repeal of the Act or its continued enforcement so long as the principle of responsible free speech was respected.
"If it hinders freedom of speech (or) expression to a great extent, then we must review (it), but so long as it provides the two principles,” Subramanian had told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
Najib still on holiday in south of France: Zahid puts on show?
Najib is now still on holiday in the south of France. When he returns, he is expected to U-turn from his promise to remove the Sedition Act, the last major unfair legislation in Malaysia's constitution.
Some Opposition leaders including PKR MP for Pandan Rafizi Ramli have accused Najib of putting on a 'sandiwara' through Zahid's outburst.
"We can expect the Cabinet to backtrack eventually in the next one to two weeks. But rather than allowing Najib to take the heat, Zahid will be the fall guy so that all attacks are on him (Zahid) and eventually when Najib reverses his decision (he will look like he is giving in to the wishes of the Cabinet,” said Rafizi.
Malaysia Chronicle

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.