Govt to discuss need for 3R law with Bar Council, other stakeholders

The government will hold discussions with the relevant parties this Friday to assess existing laws and look into the need for a new law to deal with the 3R issues of race, religion and royalty.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said the discussion, to be held at the Asian International Arbitration Centre in Kuala Lumpur, would involve the Bar Council, professional bodies, enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and NGOs.

"We will study or make an assessment (of) existing laws (such as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Sedition Act 1948). 

"We will discuss whether they are sufficient (to deal with the 3R issues) or otherwise because currently, offences involving 3R issues are investigated under a law that is more geared towards elements of criminal offences.

"Many countries now have various races and religions and they use special laws, for example, Indonesia and Australia," she told reporters in Klang last night.

She said in other countries, the matter was dealt with not only by focusing on the criminal aspects, but also through counselling and education.