3R conversations can be progressive move

SHAH ALAM - The Cabinet's decision agreeing that changes should be made to limit the Sedition Act 1948’s use to only matters involving one of the 3Rs which is the royal institution is the first step to a progressive move to have better conversations around the Act.

BowerGroupAsia director Arinah Najwa Ahmad Said said although it would have been great to have a more comprehensive and holistic view on the Act on all the 3Rs (race, religion, royal institution), the Cabinet's decision was definitely a progressive move.

She said given the government's priorities, conversations around challenging the royalty may be difficult.

"Once you're in the government, you realise your priorities change, so I think this is the first step towards a progressive move to have better conversations around the Sedition Act.

"I think they are not ready yet for that kind of scenario. Hence, race and religion could be something that is a bit more debatable probably a compromise or middle ground," she said during Sinar Daily's Wacana programme entitled 'Finding Middle Ground for 3R Conversations'.

She emphasised the importance of having broader discussions especially with existing international standards on hate speeches globally and anti-discrimination laws.

These were the things that could be benchmarked against, she added.

"Overall, it is viewed as the first step towards a progressive move forward," Arinah said.

Recently, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Cabinet has agreed that changes should be made to limit to the Sedition Act's use to only matters related to royalty.