Abolition of Sedition Act will not affect Malay rights - Proham

The abolition of the Sedition Act 1948 will not affect the four sensitive aspects concerning the special rights of the Malays and the Bumiputera enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

As such, secretary-general of the Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham) Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria said the Malays need not worry about the plan to abolish the Act as the four aspects - the special position of the Malays and Bumiputera (Article 153), the special position of Malay Rulers (Article 181), Malay language as the National Language (Article 152) and Citizenship (Part III) would be protected and well preserved.

"In fact, any replacement of the Act, including the proposed National Harmony Act, will not touch on these four aspects," he told reporters after moderating the Round-Table Discussion on the Sedition Act 1948 at Universiti Malaya, here today.

The discussion was attended by former Bukit Aman CID director Tan Sri Mohamed Zaman Khan Rahim Khan, Proham Chairman Datuk Kuthbul Zaman and Malaysian Bar Council's Young Lawyers Committee chairman Syahredzan Johan.

Commenting on the call by the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) that the abolition or improvement of the Sedition Act be referred to the Council of Rulers, Dr Denison said it was a non-issue because only amendment to certain matters concerning Malay rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution would need the consent of the council.