Current laws give adequate protection to royals

Law minister Nancy Shukri explains that provisions in the Sedition Act, Penal Code and, the Communications and Multimedia Act suffice.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has no intention of enacting new laws to curb acts of contempt against the royal institution, the Dewan Negara was told today. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri said this was because existing laws were sufficient to protect the royal institution.

“The Federal Constitution guarantees the special position of the Royal Institution, Rulers and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as stipulated in Article 32, Article 38 and Article 71,” she said when answering a question from Senator Raja Roopiah Raja Abdullah at the sitting here today.

Raja Roopiah wanted to know what action was being taken against those who insulted leaders and the royal institution and whether existing laws should be strengthened or new laws enacted.

Nancy Shukri said there were several provisions for anyone who insulted or used derogatory remarks towards the Royal institution, Rulers and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, among them subsection 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948 (Act 15).

In addition, section 425 of the Penal Code (Act 547) and section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588), also provided for such offence and were applicable for insulting leaders of the country, she explained.

In replying to a question from Senator Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Nancy Shukri said the government had no plans to amend the Legal Profession Act 1976 (Act 166) to enable the establishment of another regulatory body, other than the Legal Council for the legal profession.

- BERNAMA