Govt to table bill to axe Sedition Act, new law to follow

Govt to table bill to axe Sedition Act, new law to follow

A bill to do away with the Sedition Act will be tabled in March, says the law minister.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong.
SANDAKAN:
A bill to abolish the Sedition Act 1948 will be tabled in Parliament in March, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong.

He said after the abolition, the government would then introduce a new law.

“As the minister in charge of law, I have held meetings with relevant committees from all ministries and the decision is made to study and abolish the Sedition Act and to replace it with a new Act,” he said.

Liew said in the existing Act, the definition of sedition was very broad and could be misinterpreted.

Asked on the bill to abolish the death penalty, he said the government was still waiting for the views of all ministries.

Meanwhile, he said the government does not have two-thirds support from Dewan Rakyat members to allow amendments to the Federal Constitution to extend the retirement age for judges to 70.

“Thus far, Pakatan Harapan has 115 members of the Dewan Rakyat from the total of 222 members. The government needs support from at least 148 members.

“If there is support from the opposition, amendments to the constitution can be made,” he said.

Under the Federal Constitution’s Article 125(1), a Federal Court judge’s retirement age is fixed at 66, with an extension of six months allowed if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong approves it.

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