Bigotry, including racial discrimination by the government, could be criminalised for the first time in Malaysia if three Bills mooted by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) are passed into law.
If accepted, the Bills, uploaded onto the the NUCC website, could even send bigots to jail.
According to the National Unity Bill, offences include espousing propaganda or ideas promoting “racial superiority” or “exclusivity based on religion, belief, race, descent or place of birth”.
While it is unclear how this sits with pro-bumiputera policies, the Unity Bill also prohibits the government from practising “unfair discrimination”.
“The government and all persons shall not unfairly discriminate against any person,” it states.
The Unity Bill also prohibits denial of opportunities or services based on the same criteria.
The National Harmony Bill, which accompanies the Unity Bill, meanwhile, states that incitement of religious or racial hatred could put someone behind bars for up to seven years or fined RM5,000, or both.
This is if someone is found to be guilty of “threatening, inciting or inciting others to threaten or physically harm others or their property” on the basis of race or religion.
Those who commit physical harm on the same basis, meanwhile, can be jailed for up to a decade or fined RM10,000 or both, the Harmony Bill uploaded onto the NUCC website states.
Hatred against rulers also a crime
Similarly, “hatred or contempt” against the monarch is also frowned upon in the Harmony Bill.
Anyone guilty of this, or of inciting disaffection against a ruler can be locked up for up to seven years or fined RM5,000 or both.
However, an ouster clause states that criticism “to show any that any ruler has been misled or mistaken in any of his measures” is not an offence.
Punishment will be meted out by a tribunal, empowered by another accompanying bill - the National Unity and Integration Commission Bill.
The tribunal, a public inquiry held once mediation fails, has the power to compel witnesses and orders by the tribunal are to be recognised for enforcement as orders made by a High Court.
The commission will be made up of up to 30 people, who are appointed by the agong upon advice of the prime minister. The commission then appoints the panel of three to sit on a tribunal.
Inviting the public to give feedback on the bills, NUCC member Mujahid Rawa said that the bills are meant to “eliminate hate crimes against any race or religion” to maintain peace and harmony.
“These Bills if adopted can be powerful instruments to minimise and avoid racial and religious conflicts,” he said in a statement.
The PAS central committee member also denied that the bills are inconsistent with Federal Constitution or undermines the position of Islam, the rulers, Malays or Sabah and Sarawak natives.
If accepted, the Bills, uploaded onto the the NUCC website, could even send bigots to jail.
According to the National Unity Bill, offences include espousing propaganda or ideas promoting “racial superiority” or “exclusivity based on religion, belief, race, descent or place of birth”.
While it is unclear how this sits with pro-bumiputera policies, the Unity Bill also prohibits the government from practising “unfair discrimination”.
“The government and all persons shall not unfairly discriminate against any person,” it states.
The Unity Bill also prohibits denial of opportunities or services based on the same criteria.
The National Harmony Bill, which accompanies the Unity Bill, meanwhile, states that incitement of religious or racial hatred could put someone behind bars for up to seven years or fined RM5,000, or both.
This is if someone is found to be guilty of “threatening, inciting or inciting others to threaten or physically harm others or their property” on the basis of race or religion.
Those who commit physical harm on the same basis, meanwhile, can be jailed for up to a decade or fined RM10,000 or both, the Harmony Bill uploaded onto the NUCC website states.
Hatred against rulers also a crime
Similarly, “hatred or contempt” against the monarch is also frowned upon in the Harmony Bill.
Anyone guilty of this, or of inciting disaffection against a ruler can be locked up for up to seven years or fined RM5,000 or both.
However, an ouster clause states that criticism “to show any that any ruler has been misled or mistaken in any of his measures” is not an offence.
Punishment will be meted out by a tribunal, empowered by another accompanying bill - the National Unity and Integration Commission Bill.
The tribunal, a public inquiry held once mediation fails, has the power to compel witnesses and orders by the tribunal are to be recognised for enforcement as orders made by a High Court.
The commission will be made up of up to 30 people, who are appointed by the agong upon advice of the prime minister. The commission then appoints the panel of three to sit on a tribunal.
Inviting the public to give feedback on the bills, NUCC member Mujahid Rawa said that the bills are meant to “eliminate hate crimes against any race or religion” to maintain peace and harmony.
“These Bills if adopted can be powerful instruments to minimise and avoid racial and religious conflicts,” he said in a statement.
The PAS central committee member also denied that the bills are inconsistent with Federal Constitution or undermines the position of Islam, the rulers, Malays or Sabah and Sarawak natives.
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