The government today clarified the draft bills uploaded on the National Unity Consultative Councils (NUCC) website for public feedback is not official drafts but only proposals.

In a joint statement by Joseph Kurup and Nancy Shukri (left), who are both Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department, today said NUCC is gathering inputs from various non-governmental organisation.

“Each suggestion received from stakeholders including non-governmental organisations will be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers to be scrutinised and be given due consideration based on the federal constitution, which is the highest law in the land,” they said in the joint statement.

“The proposal are further considered and approved by the cabinet, as the final body to give approval.

"NUCC is the body formed to gather feedback on national unity by proposing the National Unity Blueprint to ensure harmony and unity of all races is preserved.”

All opinions welcome

Nancy and Kurup said unity is everyone’s responsibility and any valid opinion is welcomed.

They were referring to three drafts of legislation proposed by the NUCC and uploaded onto its website for feedback.

The bills proposed by the NUCC among others criminalise bigotry, a move which has attracted severe criticism from several NGOs representing Malays.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was reported to have rapped the NUCC for discussing the proposal openly with the Bar Council and said the views expressed on the matter should be discussed privately.

Najib also said ultimately it is the cabinet, and not NUCC, who will have the final say on whether the new bill will replace the Sedition Act 1948.

The NUCC is under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department.