Don't politicise issue of A-G reviewing OSA: Zahid Hamidi

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi slammed the actions of certain parties who are trying to politicise the decision of the Attorney-General (A-G) to review the penalties under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972.

He said Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali's decision should not be politicised by any party, including the Opposition.

He said the decision by the A-G was based on the provisions of the existing law.

"This (decision) should be respected. The A-G's agenda is to enforce the law and not to politicise an issue and be inundated with the politicised interpretation of the issue, and this should not be seen as a political issue by anyone, including the Opposition," he told reporters after attending a special meeting with UMNO Johor at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre.

READ: Geramm reacts to A-G on whistleblowing

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, was asked to comment on PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli's intent on starting a social media campaign to gather support from the people, to reject the proposed amendments to the OSA.

Mohamed Apandi was quoted by a Chinese newspaper as saying that he was considering amending the OSA to increase the penalties against those who were involved in leaking state secrets, as well as those who reported from these sources.

He was said to have been looking at the possibility of imposing life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the rotan for those found guilty.