PUTRAJAYA, March 11 — Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi vowed today to ensure the controversial Sedition Act 1948 will be used to defend Islam, the Malays and the rulers for as long as he remains home minister.
The Umno vice-president warned that without the Act, “trouble and chaos” could ensue and the country could be destroyed by the irresponsible few who dare to insult Islam.
“If we do not create awareness and if there is no Sedition Act, maybe it would cause our country to fall apart. There will be trouble, chaos, if there is no containment,” Zahid said in his monthly ministerial address this morning.
“As long as I am home minister, I will ensure this amended law, the Sedition Act, will defend the position of Islam, the rulers, and Malays under my responsibility,” he added to a round of applause from thousands of the civil servants present.
Citing as example the recent dog adoption programme in Penang where a tudung-clad Muslim woman was seen holding a puppy, Zahid said such an event would not have happened before the spread of liberalism, which has now reached an “extreme” point.
“Kids who are born after 2000, after the new millennium, the ones called ‘Generation Z’ … they do not know much about the history of our country,” the minister said.
Yesterday, an event called Opt-To-Adopt was held at Penang Times Square to encourage non-Muslims to adopt stray dogs, according to joint organisers Han Chiang College, Save Our Strays and Penang Times Square.
The event courted controversy after a picture of a tudung-clad woman holding a puppy at the event went viral on social media, attracting criticism from several Muslim groups.
Zahid also pledged his unconditional support for the police today, following an online death threat against Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar by a group who labelled itself “Anak Muda Anti Demokrasi” (Anti-Democracy Youths).
“I don’t wish to puff out my chest, but as long as I am in the Home Ministry I will defend all the good deeds done by the police … How can we allow insults against the police?” the Bagan Datoh MP said.
Putrajaya 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.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also announced that the Act will be strengthened with two extra provisions: One prohibiting insults against all religions, and the other prohibiting talks of Sabah and Sarawak seceding from Malaysia.
