UMNO AGM Umno vice president Hishammuddin Hussein said the party's new legal bureau will assist in strengthening the Sedition Act.

This follows Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's announcement to retain and fortify the colonial era law.

"Without fear or favour, we will moblise this unit to strengthen the Act," said Hishammuddin.

The vice-president earlier took a swipe at the Bar Council, which has often been at odds with the government.

He said Umno's newly-formed legal bureau showed that there were other legal voices out there.

"This unit (legal bureau) has approached many young lawyers who want to be with Umno.

"These friends of Umno are testament that Bar Council does not represent the whole of the legal community in this country.

"The question of discussing legal matters is not the absolute right of the Bar Council, it is the right of all Malaysians," he added during his winding up speech at the Umno general assembly today.

Shahrizat hails 'brave' Najib

Meanwhile, another vice-president Shafie Apdal said merely strengthening the Sedition Act is insufficient.

"It should not only be strengthened, but must be enforced," said the Semporna MP.

Shafie took aim at secessionist calls in Sabah, which he said affected his constituency that is closest to neighbouring Philippines and Indonesia.

On the other hand, Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil hailed Najib's about face from his 2012 promise to abolish the Sedition Act as "the bravery of a prime minister".

However, she said the revised Sedition Act should be fair.

"I hope, on behalf of Wanita Umno, when the provisions of the Sedition Act are enforced, let them be enforced fairly and judiciously, she added.

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