Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said it was the right move in efforts to curb the action of certain quarters who were openly abused the freedom of speech.
“I greatly welcome it in the current situation where the freedom to speak, freedom of speech and freedom to write all kinds of matters have been widely abused.
“…and the Sedition Act is a law that is suitable to address this situation,” he told a media conference after officiating the police Government Green Procurement Implementation seminar here today.
He was commenting on the announcement by Najib, who is also Umno President, that the Sedition Act 1948 would be maintained with proposed amendments to include two special provisions to further strengthen the act when delivering his policy speech at the Umno General Assembly 2014 at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.
Khalid said the act, which was in use all this while, had its own strength and would become better if it was streamlined and improved.
Asked on the improvements that the police hoped for, he said among the matters that needed to be given attention was from the prosecution aspect, especially to facilitate the police in producing or make charges against those responsible.
Two special provisions that would be included aimed to preserve the sanctity of Islam and other religions as well as prosecute those who called for the separation of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia.
In another development, Khalid said the police also shared the government’s concern on the involvement of Malaysians in militant activities, terrorist groups and threats that could trigger if they returned to the country.
However the government’s proposal to table a new law to curb and address this menace could help to strengthen further the police’s current planning to face any eventualities, he said.
“We have plannings, insya-Allah, don’t worry but we need laws to give the police more power to act against them,” he added.
— BERNAMA
