PUTRAJAYA, Jan 10 — There are enough alternative laws to be used against the three people who were arrested over online insults against Sultan Muhammad V after he abdicated recently, instead of the Sedition Act 1948.
Legal affairs minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong said there were other Acts that could be used against the trio. However, it is ultimately up to the attorney general to decide what law they will be charged under.
“In fact, there are sufficient laws under the Penal Code to deal with them. We don’t necessarily have to revisit the Sedition Act to deal with them,” he told reporters here.
“This will be in the hands of the AG, because the AG is the one who will decide whether to prosecute them under which particular section, which particular law.
“The AG is the prosecutor so they will decide. I’m sure the AG will come out with the appropriate law to deal with these offenders,” he added.
According to the Star, the Law Minister also mentioned today that the government will consider amending existing laws or introducing new ones to “protect” the country’s rulers from insults. The government may refer to the experience in other Commonwealth countries, and particularly the UK which also practises the constitutional monarchy system.
Two men and one woman were arrested by the police on Tuesday for having insulted (on social media) the Sultan Muhammad V after he abdicated as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sunday.
Police said the trio are being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.
