Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said he supports the government’s proposal to implement a new law that imposes penalties on those who play up 3R (race, religion and royalty) sentiments.
“I welcome the suggestion.
“I believe there is room for us to look at the current laws and to see what we can do to enhance them,” Fahmi (above) told reporters after attending the Global Conference on Communications, Culture and Contemporary Media 2023 in Bangi today.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said revealed that the new act was similar to Singapore’s Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act, but in the local context.
At present, Azalina said any offence involving the 3R issue was investigated under the Sedition Act 1948, whereby the act was more geared towards elements of criminal offences, causing prosecution to take a long time due to legal procedures.
She said the proposed act, which may be called the “State and Nation Act”, had been presented to the cabinet yesterday and received a positive response.
Meanwhile, Fahmi expressed disappointment over certain politicians exploiting 3R sentiments despite the warnings issued by the Malay rulers, the prime minister, and the police.
He suggested establishing dedicated units within the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission and the police to monitor those harping on 3R issues.
“As I have said before, you reap what you sow.
“The kind of desperado politics that employs 3R during (election) campaigning cannot be allowed to persist,” he said. - Mkini
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