Sedition Act not the answer for racial harmony - Bar Council

The Bar Council today expressed its disappointment on the announcement made by UMNO president, Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the Sedition Act will be retained and strenghtened.

It's president Christopher Leong said that retaining the Sedition Act was not the right move to foster national peace and harmony.

He said the Act was not designed or intended to achieve true peace and harmony but to control the people.

“It is folly to think that the Sedition Act 1948 is our answer to maintaining and promoting peace and harmony. There is nothing in the history of the Sedition Act 1948 and its use, either previously or currently, that supports any such notion.

“Far from promoting a culture of meaningful, frank and robust discourse, the Sedition Act 1948 criminalises questions, criticisms and expressions of thought. In our pursuit for peace and harmony, we must accept that questions, criticisms and disagreements are integral to the learning and maturing process,”Christopher said in a press statement today.

Christopher said achieving real and lasting peace and harmony requires commitment and hard work, and not the criminalisation of criticisms and expressions of thought.

He also proposed a new national harmony legislation that would serve to promote and achieve genuine peace and harmony.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that the Sedition Act will be maintained and strengthened.

In his keynote address at the 68th UMNO general assembly, Najib said the decision was taken after consulting various parties.

He stressed that the Act is necessary to protect the sanctity of all religions.