Briefing on 3R discussions scheduled for Cabinet members.

KEPALA BATAS: The Ministry in the Prime Minister’s Department will present the outcome of discussions on the 3R (race, religion and royalty) issue at the upcoming Cabinet meeting, according to Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Azalina, who is the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), stated that the ministers will be briefed on the outcome, which focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of existing laws in addressing the 3R issue.

Prior to this, Azalina had met with representatives from the Bar Council, non-governmental organisations, and civil society organisations.

“While some stakeholders believe that the existing laws are sufficient to address the matter, others suggest that the country should consider adopting laws from foreign countries like Singapore and Australia,” she said.

“It is the government’s responsibility to determine whether further discussions and studies are necessary to enact new laws or amend existing ones, including the Sedition Act 1948.

“Personally, I believe that we need an ongoing dialogue not only with the Bar Council, but also with other stakeholders, including academicians.

“If we neglect the aspect of unity in Malaysia, the use of 3R elements will persist in politics,” she added, following the launch of the one-day Madani Media and Communication Convention: Digital and Strategic Communication event.

When asked if the existing laws should be amended, Azalina emphasized the need for further research and for any amendments to reflect current times.

It was reported that the government is currently reviewing several existing laws to ensure their relevance with the country’s current development, including the increasing number of provocation cases related to 3R issues.

Azalina highlighted that some of the laws dealing with such issues, such as the Sedition Act 1948, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Electoral Offences Act 1954, and the Penal Code, have not been revised for decades.