After lobbying for the Sedition Act to be maintained, former information minister Zainuddin Maidin can rejoice that his efforts have not been in vain.

But instead of resting on his laurels, the Dr Mahathir Mohamad strongman has decided to sharpen the blade for attorney-general (AG) Abdul Gani Patail.

He claimed that the Umno general assembly ended yesterday with what was likened to a vote of no-confidence for the AG as well as a warning to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“The problem faced by the government is that if the AG is removed, it would mean political intervention.

“But if the people, who have been given high hopes by Najib, are disappointed with the AG’s attitude, then Najib would fall.

“Many have the perception that the AG is also behind Najib’s plan to abolish the Sedition Act,” he added in his latest blog post.

Zainuddin ( above ) said the same sentiment of disappointment was expressed by the prime minister, home minister and Umno delegates with regard to the AG’s failure to enforce the Sedition Act.

In the PM's winding-up speech, he noted that Najib had implored Gani to be firm with those who broke the law.

“What does this mean? Najib’s remarks were met with a thunderous applause from the delegates who understood that it was an expression of their feeling towards the weakness of the AG, who for long appears fearful of facing controversies and challenges from the opposition,” he said.

AG not firm?

Zainuddin, who is popularly known as Zam, quoted Najib as stating that under the federal constitution, the AG possessed absolute power but “we want him to be firm.”

“This (Najib’s remark) means the AG had not been firm all this while,” he wrote.

Prior to Najib's speech, Zainuddin noted Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also received resounding applause when he called on the AG Chambers to help the police in ensuring prosecution under the Sedition Act.

He said the minister also explained that the police should not be blamed, because they only investigate and arrest.

“This is a defence of the police who is often blamed by the AG for preparing a weak case,” added the former minister.

The question is, according to Zainuddin, whether Gani would be able to contribute to Zahid’s promise to enforce the law and Najib’s call for more resolve.

On Thursday, Najib announced that the Sedition Act would be maintained despite his earlier promise to abolish it, and further proclaimed the colonial era legislation would be strengthened.

VIDEO: Najib's promise to abolish the Sedition Act