Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the authorities including the police, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Comission (MCMC) and the Attorney-General's Chambers must act speedily and firmly against individuals who commit sedition in the social media.

He said the enforcement of existing laws must also be strengthened to curb the crime of sedition spreading in society so as to ensure that the prevailing racial and religious harmony is not tarnished by these irrresponsible people.

He stressed that the firmness of the government in tackling sedition was very important to ensure the people continued to enjoy peace and harmony.

"The constitution of our country not only guarantees rights that are fair to all races, but also empowers Parliament to enact laws that restrict freedom of speech to ensure that the articles contained in the constitution are not easily questioned by anyone.

"No one can say they have the right to freedom of speech to question the fundamentals in the forming of Malaysia as a multi-racial country of peace and harmony because the constitution itself does not deem this as a right," he said when launching the 'Celebrating unity, embracing diversity' programme in Kuala Lumpur today.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Joseph Kurup and National Unity and Integration Department director-general G Letchumanan.

Muhyiddin said among the important foundations of building the country were guaranteeing the rights of each race as enhsrined in the constitution.

"The importance of these fundamental rights are contained in the constitution. Article 10 states that Parliament can pass laws to restrict freedom of speech to prevent any party from questioning any of the articles (in the constitution).

"Among these are the privileges of the Malays and Sabah and Sarawak bumiputeras, Bahasa Melayu as the national language and the right to learn the mother tongue of the respective races," he explained.

Viral on social media

As such, he said the Sedition Act 1948 which was amended after the May 13 1969 tragedy made it clear that questioning important statutes in the constitution was tantamount to sedition and could be punished by a court of law.

Muhyiddin said in the spirit of appreciating and respecting the constitution, it was important that all Malaysians, irrespective of race, avoid doing anything that could lead to tension and threatening national harmony.

"This is very important because lately there has been a tendency among some individuals to make irresponsible statements that insult a certain race and religion.

"These statements which later become viral on social media have the potential to cause racial and religious tension if not controlled," he said.

He said as a multi-racial country, Malaysia's aspiration to be a developed country with its people enjoying a better quality of life could only be attained by stregthening national unity.

Without national unity, there would not be political stability which has been the core for all the successes achieved by the country thus far, he added.

At the event, Muhyiddin also handed over certificates and appointment plaques to 50 'Rakan Perpaduan' (Friends of Unity) made up of representatives of government agencies, private bodies, non-governmental organisations, government-linked companies and the media.

The role of Rakan Perpaduan is to work with the National Unity and Integration Department in organising community activities to strengthen unity among the people.

- Bernama

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