Discussions and studies on laws relating to 3R (royalty, religion and race) issues including whether there is a need to introduce a new act will be tabled to the cabinet this week.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the presentation on the first phase of the study to the cabinet would be made comprehensively before any other resolution.

"The engagement sessions comprising focus group discussions and also 3R legal dialogue recently are not to discuss new laws (on 3R). I have invited legal bodies and stakeholders to discuss the direction as there are views the existing laws are inadequate.

"Nonetheless, some said there are other laws such as in Singapore and Australia, actually the cabinet has ordered the National Unity Ministry with the Legal Division to be involved in the discussion.

"God willing, I will table the conclusions of the discussions held earlier to the cabinet this week. This is the first phase but it needs many more discussions with various parties including NGOs, civil society organisations and academicians,” she told reporters after the Madani Media Communications Convention: Strategic Communications and Digital in Kepala Batas, Penang today.

Recently, Azalina was reported as saying that she would be holding the first meeting with relevant parties to examine and refine the proposal to draft a new act related to 3R.

Earlier, the media reported that the government was studying to create a new related act based on civil aspects, which may be called the State and Nation Act similar to the Racial Harmony Act in Singapore, and the proposal was presented at the cabinet meeting.

Unity aspect, enforcement

Commenting further, Azalina said that many people say the existing law is sufficient, but that is in terms of criminal elements and her ministry needs to conduct a comprehensive study on various angles, especially from the aspect of unity and for the long term.

"There are countries that have harmonious laws and countries that have state and nation laws, so we have to study all of that (before creating a new 3R law) but it is subject to the cabinet. Whether the cabinet wants us to do more research or discuss it again will be determined.

"But I think we need continuous dialogue from all parties in order to get complete information, we have to first study the reason for the act because it has advantages only in terms of enforcement we face problems related to the confidentiality of names that cannot be traced as well as artificial intelligence technology that complicates the investigation and prosecution process," she added.

The government also continues to involve all stakeholders in considering the holistic direction of policy and legislation to be used as a guide for the administration in dealing with 3R issues, she said.

- Bernama

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