KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 – A Bill drafted by the Bar Council to replace the Sedition Act 1984 is not a draft endorsed by the government, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Muhyiddin said people should not be confused or influenced by the draft because such a draft was not endorsed by the Cabinet or the government. “A draft on the laws of the government will only be prepared by the Attorney-General’s Chambers based on views of the Cabinet after considering views and recommendations from all parties involved. “The government has not made any decision yet to abolish the Act and replace it with a new Act or amend the current Act,” said Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, when met after opening the Batu Umno division delegates meeting here today.
The meeting was also attended by Umno secretary-general and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor. The issue came to light when reports emerged that the Bar Council had completed a draft Bill to replace the Sedition Act and had handed it to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Hajjah Nancy Shukri. Muhyiddin added that he had yet to read the draft purportedly submitted by the Bar Council, but said the government was open to views and recommendations from all relevant parties. “The government is open to suggestions and will take into account views and recommendations from all parties, including former Chief Justice of Malaysia Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad and other non-governmental organisations, but what is more important is that laws that would be finalised are more effective that the current one. “The people may be influenced by the draft by the Bar Council to repeal the Sedition Act. But my advise is to wait for the draft from the government to be completed…
