Retain essence of Sedition Act says Salleh Tun Said

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah State Legislative Assembly Speaker Salleh Tun Said Keruak remarked that the Sedition Act 1948 should be maintained as it is meant to safeguard public order and national security.

“Whether the government maintains or chooses to repeal the Act, the essence of it which emphasises preserving peace must be retained,” he told reporters here today after a forum.

He was a panellist in a forum involving higher learning institution students, organised jointly by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Ministry’s Information Analysis and Management division and the Information department.

Salleh who is also the Usukan assemblyman, said even though the people in the country were accorded freedom of speech, there must be some restraint to protect the interests of the respective communities.

“No country in the world gives absolute freedom to its citizens to speak or act unrestrained at the expense of peace,” he said. - Bernama