The Sedition Act may be a "bad law" but if used by "good people", it can bring benefits, said Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik Abdul Rahman.

Abdullah Zaik, who is facing sedition charges himself, said that instead of repealing the Act, there should just be a clampdown on its abuse.

For example, he said, although Turkey is a secular government, the people can still uphold Islam as they are governed by a pious Muslim man.  

"Isma believes that the real issue is the abuse of the act and abuse of power for political interests, or what is often called as political persecution.

"We feel that when it comes to abuse of power, the controls should be for implementation and not abolishing the Act in toto," he said.

He added that Isma would prefer that the Act is "improved" by including a provision which "safeguards the sovereignty and constitutional position of Islam from being challenged".

'Beware the Jewish capitalists'

Abdullah Zaik said that the repeal could have "grave and severe" effects on the "social contract" as there will be open debate on the position of Islam, Malays, bumiputera and the royal institution.

He added this also lends to greater liberalisation and "open to country to meddling by Jewish capitalists and Christians" into the nation's policies.

"They will determine the national policies according to their desires, and they will be able to topple and prop up governments who side with them.

"With the demographic structure and racial polarisation at a critical stage now, (the repeal) will cause a collision among interested parties who are fast becoming more aggressive and desperate," he added.

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