KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 10 — The Sedition Act empowers authorities to tackle the type of provocation that triggered the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today.

Khalid was touting the efficacy of the colonial-era law that criminalises speech with an undefined “seditious tendency”, but it was unclear if he was referring to the actions of the satirical French weekly or the Islamist gunmen who attacked the magazine over caricatures of Prophet Muhammad.

“Paris attack - Laws like the Sedition Act will surely help @PDRMsia nip the problem in the bud before it escalates. Think bef saying...” the IGP said using his Twitter account today.

Two Cabinet ministers have already warned that the attacks in Paris could occur in Malaysia and other countries.

This morning, the New Straits Times reported unnamed Bukit Aman officials as saying that the Charlie Hebdo massacre showed the urgent need to introduce the Prevention of Terrorism Act that would provide police with “pre-emptive” powers to tackle such incidents.

In November, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak declared that the Sedition Act 1948 will remain, in an about-turn from his earlier pledge in 2012 to repeal the colonial era law.

In his policy speech at the start of the 65^th Umno General Assembly, he said the decision was made after consultation with party leaders, NGOs and grassroots members.

Najib also said the Act will be reinforced with two additional provisions governing the sanctity of Islam and outlawing secessionists in Sabah and Sarawak.  

Three suspected Islamists descended on the office of satirical French weekly Charlie Hebdo on January 7 and gunned down 12 people including the magazine’s staff and police officers over its provocative depictions of Prophet Muhammad.

French police patrol near the Eiffel Tower in Paris as part of the highest level of 'Vigipirate' security plan after a shooting at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo January 7, 2015. ― Reuters pic

Altogether 17 victims have died along with the three hostage-takers since Wednesday.

This morning, a top official of the al-Qaeda terrorist network — to which the slain Islamist gunmen had claimed affiliation — warned France of further attacks over the Charlie Hebdo incident.