Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng today said the rakyat should not be held hostage by the Umno grassroots, who are reportedly against the repeal of the Sedition Act.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim had earlier claimed that Umno divisions nationwide want the Sedition Act to stay.

Lim, however, said Shahidan should also take into consideration the rakyat's wishes as well.

"You cannot expect the rakyat to simply follow the whims of the Umno grassroots. Don't tell me Shahidan only cares about the Umno grassroots?”  he said in a statement today.

"What about non-Umno members? Are their demands not important to him?"

Shahidan ( right ) yesterday said that a survey conducted by Umno headquarters found that the party's division heads want the Sedition Act retained and the Internal Security Act (ISA) restored.

Meanwhile, Lim suggested that Shahidan obtain the services of an international survey agency to conduct a nationwide survey to determine whether the rakyat want the Sedition Act to be abolished and whether ISA, which allowed detention without trial, should be restored.

"I also challenge other Barisan Nasional component parties to conduct surveys at their respective divisions.

"Are MCA and MIC going to simply follow the demands of the Umno grassroots?" he asked.

Commenting on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's assurance that the Sedition Act will be repealed, Lim said he hoped it was not merely lip service.

"If he is really sincere in abolishing the Act, the charges under the Act should be revoked," he said.

A number of politicians, activists as well as Malaysiakini journalist Susan Loone were arrested under the Sedition Act over the past few weeks.