PUTRAJAYA, May 14 — Putrajaya’s recent move to strengthen the Sedition Act 1948 was meant to allow a healthy democracy in Malaysia and not to curtail it, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

In his speech at his official residence in Seri Perdana, Najib also said that Putrajaya would adopt a no-compromise stand when it comes to matters that threaten national unity.

“As government leaders, there is no space for us to compromise over issues and understandings which can ruin the fabric of unity that we share as Malaysians altogether,” Najib added.

He said that religious issues in particular should be handled with care and treated fairly but must not be taken lightly.

“We don’t want religion to be used as ‘sandaran’ (base) by any parties.

“I have said before, under the provisions of the amended Sedition Act, it is no more an offence to criticise the administration, unlike previously.

“However, if you were to incite the people to topple the government without a due democratic process, then it is an offence,” he said in his speech at the launch of the Malaysia Wasatiyyah Institute here.

Najib said that with the amendments to the Act, any individual with an intent to spread religious hatred would be dealt with accordingly.

On April 10, Parliament passed a Bill to amend the Sedition Act 1948 after a record debate, effectively granting wider jurisdiction to the authorities to take action on speeches or activities that are seen as seditious in nature.

Putrajaya had previously pledged to repeal the Sedition Act that critics say is used to stifle political opposition and dissent, but announced in November last year that it will be retained and expanded instead.