SERDANG, March 2 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin defended today “stern” action taken by Putrajaya in handling issues that could incite racial tension, saying this was necessary to preserve peace and national unity.
The deputy prime minister also urged student leaders here to help the government in its cause, saying Malaysia has to remain peaceful, united and without racial and religious conflicts in order to continue to excel and succeed as a nation.
"So the government is stern in handling problems that can create racial issues, racism, extremism and any violent and criminal activities that will be a threat to the country,” Muhyiddin said in his speech at the Student Representative Council (MPP) meet at Universiti Putra Malaysia.
“We cannot ignore this," he added, without specifying what “stern” action he was referring to.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, said, however, that being “stern” does not entail prohibiting students or the public from holding discussions on issues.
"We are not stopping that but there are certain limits so they do not touch on sensitive issues such as those that are enshrined in the Federal Constitution," he said.
The Umno deputy president reiterated that Malay rights, the monarchy, Islamic issues as well as the rights of non-Malays and non-Muslims should not be questioned.
"What is more important is that we understand in the context of the relationship between ourselves, and that starts from the student leaders… to start a culture of understanding and teamwork," he said, adding that instilling national unity is important in student leadership programmes.
The government recently embarked on a crackdown of Internet users critical of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy conviction last month.
In the February 10 decision, the Opposition Leader was sentenced to five years’ jail when the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s 2014 ruling that had reversed his acquittal of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
To date, Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S. Arutchelvan has been arrested for claiming political conspiracy in Anwar’s case while PKR leader Fariz Musa has been detained for allegedly inciting street protests and Penang state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin for asking the public to not trust the judiciary.
Cartoonist Zunar or Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque was remanded for three days last month after he was arrested over a Twitter post that mentioned the judiciary and political masters.
Police chief Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has also ordered the police to investigate DAP MP Nga Kor Ming and PKR MP Rafizi Ramli for sedition, both for tweets on Anwar’s conviction.
PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was also arrested over a week ago for joining a protest to show solidarity for Anwar.
Putrajaya had previously pledged to repeal the Sedition Act 1948 that critics say is used to stifle political opposition and dissent, but later announced that it will be retained and expanded instead.
