The Sedition Act 1948 can still be used until the motion to abolish the draconian law is tabled in Parliament, according to Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
"From the legal point of view, the act still exists and can be used as it has not been brought to parliament to be abolished," he told reporters in Kajang today.
However, Muhyiddin said the need to use the act would depend on the authorities' wisdom and discretion in handling critical issues relating to religion and the royal institution.
"There are still people out there who make remarks on sensitive issues, questioning the royal institution and religion. We can't allow this," he added.
Muhyiddin was asked to comment on de facto law minister Liew Vui Keong's statement that the police have been ordered not to use the Sedition Act against government critics.
Liew had said the police could use Section 298 and 298A of the Penal Code against those who utter or publish words meant to cause hurt.
Among others, police have recently investigated the organisers of the Women's Day march on March 9 and Sabahan Jufazli Shi Ahmad under the Sedition Act.
The circumstances behind Jufazli's arrest is uncertain.
He had recently published a 58-minute video clip in which he accused Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad of protecting former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Sarawak governor Taib Mahmud from the law. Mkini
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