UMNO AGM Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has issued a stern warning over the Sedition Act, now that it will be strengthened.

"I promise when this Act has been strengthened by the prime minister, I will continue to take action against the offenders," he said in his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly today to loud cheers.

Zahid, who is also Umno vice president, noted that a delegate had questioned whether the government was putting the Sedition Act to good use despite plans to strengthen it.

Responding to this, he said 40 people were prosecuted under the Sedition Act in 2010 while 12 were charged this year alone.

He also urged other agencies, including the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission and the Attorney-General's Chambers, to assist the police in securing prosecutions under the Sedition Act.

'Don't just push things to the police, the police are already investigating and conducting the arrests," he said.

He then asked if the delegates thought he was being "hardcore" for his tough stance.

"Am I seen as hardcore? Am I seen as fundamentalist? I am here because you voted for me (in the Umno elections).

"I am placed here by the prime minister and you to be the home minister," he declared to thunderous cheers.

Meanwhile, Zahid urged delegates to support the prime minister's White Paper on the Islamic State threat and the proposal to introduce a new anti-terror law.

To drive home his point, he played a video of the Islamic State militants marching their prisoners for execution.

The prisoners were seen being lined up as militants picked up their knives. However, the video ended before they were beheaded.

"We do not want this to happen in Malaysia so support the prime minister's White Paper to create a new anti-terrorism law," he said.

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