KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — The Cabinet has agreed in principle for the National Security Council and the Prime Minister’s Department to coordinate the drafting of the National Security Bill.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the bill aims to safeguard national security from external and internal threats, including protecting the constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy and inter-religious harmony.
He was responding to a question from Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Harapan-Bandar Kuching), regarding the government’s plan to either repeal or amend the Sedition Act 1948 so it would apply only to issues concerning royal institutions, rather than being misused for other matters, during an oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Shamsul said the bill’s enactment follows a study by the Home Ministry, on the need to amend the Sedition Act 1948 to align with the digital age, or to introduce a new law to address 3R issues (religion, royalty, race).
The sedition act will be retained for now to preserve public order and national security, Shamsul added.
“The government always upholds the right of the people to speak, but it must be within the rules and guidelines that have been set, to ensure it does not cross the limits,” he said.
He emphasised that the Home Ministry will continue to update the list of entities classified as terrorist groups, such as Abu Sayyaf and those claiming to be heirs of the Sulu sultanate.
He said by listing these entities, their financial activities can be blocked, which prevents them from carrying out terrorist activities like kidnapping and robbery.
Shamsul assured that the security situation along the east coast of Sabah is stable thanks to the Eastern Sabah Security Command.
He said this in his reply to a question from Datuk Siti Aminah Aching (BN-Beaufort) about efforts to curb kidnapping and robbery in waters off the Sabah east coast.
— Bernama
