.jpg "Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa speaks to Malay Mail during an interview at his office in Putrajaya July 05, 2018. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Yusof Mat Isa")
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — The government will introduce a proposed law to police remarks and actions intended to cause racial and religious insults soon, said Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs said the law will be tabled in Parliament to safeguard interfaith and communal ties in Malaysia.
His disclosure also comes after recent slurs made online towards Islam.
“The Pakatan Harapan government will be tabling a Religious and Racial Hatred Bill soon, in which action will be taken not only against those who insult Islam, but against other religions too.
“This is to ensure all races and religion are protected from being insulted and abused,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat, today.
The Parit Buntar MP said he would meet with religious scholars on the matter but did not elaborate further.
In response to a question by Kuala Krau MP Ismail Mohamed Said, who asked about the legal measures taken against those who have insulted Islam on social media, Mujahid said the ministry had not yet received an official police report but will look into the matter within the law.
The former Barisan Nasional (BN) government had in 2014 proposed the National Harmony and Reconciliation Bill drafted by the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), which was to replace the Sedition Act 1948, but was later shelved.
It was among three new laws proposed under the national unity blueprint by the council, of which Mujahid was a member.
