'Rectify the error in the Sedition Act 1948' - Musa Hassan

SHAH ALAM - The government through the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), is urged to clarify regarding the use of the Sedition Act 1948, which is alleged to not include the 2015 Amendment Act (Act A1485).

This is to avoid public confusion on the matter.

Former Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan elaborated that this realisation came after he purchased a copy of the Sedition Act 1948 published by the International Law Book Services (ILBS) for record and reading purposes, as he is often asked by journalists to comment on issues related to the 3R - the royal institution, religion, and race.

"It is very surprising, and I believe the Sedition Act 1948 (Amendment 2015) was consented to by the royal institution on May 28, 2015 and gazetted on June 4 of the same year.

"This means that the relevant amended act was ready for enforcement from the date it was gazetted. However, when I found a copy of the Sedition Act 1948 (up to April 25 2022), it did not contain the 2015 Amendment Act.

"The question arises as to whether police investigations related to 3R issues are currently using the Sedition Act 1948, the old act (before the amendment), or the new act?" he said in a statement on Thursday.

Musa clarified that offences related to sedition under section 3(1)(a) which is to incite hatred against the government and section 3(1)(c) of the Sedition Act, which would bring hatred against the administration of justice in Malaysia, were abolished after the approval of the 2015 Amendment Act.

"So, I wonder why such an important statute, published by ILBS and sold to the public, still does not incorporate the 2015 amendment that has been made," he questioned