Govt mulling act for civil penalties on those who play up 3R issues

The government is mulling a new act to impose civil penalties on those who play up 3R sentiments on religion, race and royalty, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said.

She said the new act, which may be called the State and Nation Act, was like the Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act in Singapore, but in a Malaysian context.

At present, she said any offence involving 3R issues is investigated under the Sedition Act 1848, which is more geared towards elements of criminal offences. She said this meant that prosecution would take a long time due to legal procedures.

"So I said maybe we need to evaluate it in the element of positivity... such an act that is proposed is punitive.

"It means that if one violates it, he or she will be fined. That is easier to solve or convict," she told reporters in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Azalina said the proposal for the new act was presented to the Cabinet yesterday and had received received a positive response.

She said the challenge at the moment is that when social media is used to play up 3R sentiments, it can be denied with no solid evidence to prove it.

She said the new act would be a solution to the 3R issue which she added had become more prevalent in the country in recent years, and ensure that the needs of the future generation are better met.