Umno Youth will submit a memorandum to the government, asking for certain provisions in the Sedition Act 1948 to be fine-tuned and maintained before the act is replaced with the National Harmony Act.

Its chief, Khairy Jamaluddin (left) said certain matters needed to be given attention by the government to prevent sensitive issues involving race and religion from being raised by irresponsible parties.

"All this while, the Sedition Act has been a shield for basic and sensitive matters, and I hope the new act would give the same protection to all Malaysians.

"We are not only hoping for protection for the position of Islam as the official religion of the federation, but any statement or action that insults any religion must me made an offence under the new act," he said after chairing an Umno Youth executive committee (exco) meeting in Kuala Lumpur today.

More details sought

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nancy Shukri (right) , had recently announced the drafts for three bills, namely, the National Harmony Bill, National Unity Bill and Commission for National Unity and Integration Bill.

    

She was also reported to have said that the National Unity Consultatve Council had submitted the first draft of the National Harmony Bill to the cabinet in May.

    

Khairy, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, said the draft of Umno Youth's memorandum on the National Harmony Act would be tabled at the Umno Youth exco meeting next month.

"We have asked for more detailed presentation on each line in the proposed bill so that we can respond to each line. But what I mentioned just now is the basic position of Umno Youth on certain sensitive matters...these things are non-negotiable," he said.    

- Bernama

Related stories

'Chop off head' remark offence under new bill

Reject Perkasa's 'chop head' remark, says MB

Now Perkasa turns its guns on corruption

Police report filed on Perkasa's 'chop head' call