Karim: Mind your language, even when in DUN

April 25, 2015

KUCHING: Words that are treasonable and seditious are not privileged even when uttered in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), said Asajaya assemblyman Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzan.

Karim said it was up to the Attorney-General (AG) to prosecute those who uttered them.

“One is not covered by House privilege for uttering seditious and treasonable words. The final say on whether to prosecute or not rests on the AG,” said the Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban).

“There had been decided cases on this. Case in point is PP vs Mark Koding. He was charged for uttering seditious words in Parliament in 1978, whereby in his speech he asked for the closure of Chinese and Tamil schools in Malaysia.

“He was charged and found guilty,” said Karim on Thursday when asked for his opinion on Pujut assemblyman Fong Pau Teck’s statement made at the DUN.

Santubong MP Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, when contacted yesterday, also confirmed there were several cases similar to Mark Koding’s over the years, but not as many as that in the English Parliament.

“But whether any statement is seditious is defined by the Sedition Act and interpreted by the judge. I cannot remember how many cases like this in Malaysia but certainly volumes of them could be found in England,” said the Deputy Home Minister.

Tiada keperluan mansuh Akta Hasutan

September 14, 2014

Memadai jika pindaan dibuat bagi memperbaiki akta tersebut, kata Abdul Karim

KUCHING: Tidak ada keperluan untuk memansuhkan Akta Hasutan bagi digantikan dengan Akta Keharmonian Nasional.

Menteri Muda Pembangunan Belia Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah berkata, sebaliknya memadai jika pindaan dibuat bagi memperbaiki akta tersebut.

“Kenapa perlu memansuhkan Akta Hasutan sekarang? Adakah ia mempunyai banyak kelemahan atau pihak berwajib yang menjalankan penguatkuasaan tidak memainkan peranan?

“Secara peribadi, saya tidak melihat keperluan untuk mewujudkan akta baharu, sama ada ia dipanggil Akta Keharmornian Nasional atau apa sahaja, jika niatnya sama,” katanya.

Beliau berkata antara fasal-fasal tertentu yang boleh dibuat selari dengan perubahan semasa adalah berkaitan media sosial tetapi bukan keseluruhan akta.

“Memperkenalkan akta baharu adalah seperti melahirkan bayi.

“Kita tidak memerlukan itu di Malaysia melainkan kerajaan bangga akta itu diperkenalkan kerajaan,” katanya.

Repealing Sedition Act not a wise move – Karim

September 3, 2014

KUCHING: A lawmaker is against the idea of repealing the Sedition Act to be replaced by the National Harmony Bill.

Asajaya assemblyman Datul Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, suggested that the government amend the Sedition Act to rectify the shortcoming.

“Why the need to repeal the sedition Act now? Are there too much flaws in it, or the authority that should be enforcing it does not do its part?

“Personally, I don’t see the need for another Act, whether it is called the National Harmony Act or whatever if its intention is similar,” Abdul Karim told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He said certain clauses might need amendment to meet the changes happening in society, especially those related to social media, but not to repeal the whole Act. National Harmony Bill, if passed would meet the same fate as the Sedition Act, if the government did not enforce it, he said.

The Assistant Minister of Youth Development said whoever was at the helm of the government should not “repeal this and that Act just as they like”, only to regret it after realising there were still flaws in the new Act.

“Introducing a totally new Act is like coming up with a new baby and we don’t need that in Malaysia unless the government feels and takes pride that this or that Act was introduced by the government.