Another Malay-rights NGO, the D (MPM), today urged the government to maintain the Sedition Act 1948 as the law is necessary for a multi-racial country.

MPM chairperson Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman said the act was relevant in maintaining security, harmony and national unity.

"Issues on separating Sabah and Sarawak from the peninsula, slanders and religious insults will certainly disrupt peace and harmony," he said at a press conference on the Sedition Act.

The government had previously intended to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 and replace it with a new National Harmony Act.

Abdul Aziz said the Sedition Act can be amended and further strengthened over time but cannot be replaced, because without the Act, certain parties would rile up sensitive issues with regard to the royal institution, rights and privileges of indigenous people as well as freedom of expression.

"The question of sensitive issues were considered as one of the major causes of the May 13, 1969 riot. It was therefore decided to prohibit the questioning of any of the four sensitive issues," he said.

"Many people talk on repeal of the Sedition Act but none of them talked about Article 159 (5) (consent needed from Conference of Rulers). It is not a simple matter to repeal law as they say this is a serious issue.

"The issue is therefore whether it is wise to debate and argue about the repeal of the Sedition Act when the Conference of Rulers has not been consulted.

"Even, if the government wants to improve and strengthen the law, they have to get the Conference of Rulers' consent," he said.

Also present were MPM adviser Mohammed Hanif Omar, chairperson of the MPM Integrity Bureau Mohd Zaman Khan and secretary-general Dr Hasan Mad.

- Bernama