Draft of National Harmony Bill to be presented to cabinet soon - Kurup

The draft of the National Harmony Bill is now in its final stage and will be presented to the Cabinet in the near future, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.

He said that to ensure the bill was able to realise it goals, his department had gathered views from various parties, including non-governmental organisations and political parties.

"The Act is not to simply prosecute or punish those found guilty but it's more to creating awareness and to educate people to not do anything that could affect the country's harmony," he told reporters after a working visit to the Agricultural Fertigation and National Integrated Rukun Tetangga Community Pilot Programme in Mukim Pulau Tiga, yesterday.

Kurup hoped the act would not become controversial, and would be accepted by the public and political leaders as Malaysia would have a system that could unite the people.

The formation of a National Harmony Act was proposed to replace the Sedition Act 1948, to uphold the peace and harmony in the country.