National Unity Ministry to study effectiveness of existing 3R, hate speech laws

The National Unity Ministry will review the effectiveness of existing laws and enforcement on religion, royalty, race issues, and hate speech.

Various laws, including the Sedition Act and Communications Multimedia Act, already address these issues, but effective enforcement is crucial.

The ministry will propose appointing a Harmony Commissioner and develop an Action Plan to enhance social harmony and enforcement coordination.

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 7 — The National Unity Ministry, through the Unity Issues Management Committee (JPIP), will undertake a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of existing legal provisions and enforcement mechanisms in addressing issues related to religion, royalty and race (3R), as well as hate speech.

In a statement today, the ministry said the matters to be reviewed included the definitions of 3R and hate speech, jurisdictional scope, overlapping legal provisions and the effectiveness of enforcement actions under existing laws.

The committee will be co-chaired by National Unity Ministry secretary-general Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, and Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) director-general at the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zamri Misman.

“The ministry acknowledges that various legal provisions are already in place to address issues related to 3R, hate speech and social harmony.

“These include the Sedition Act 1948, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, as well as relevant provisions under the Penal Code which fall under the purview of the Home Ministry and the Communications Ministry,” the statement read.

The ministry said the prohibition against discrimination is already provided for under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which serves as the country’s supreme law.

Therefore, it said any proposal to establish an additional institution or introduce new legislation must be assessed comprehensively to avoid overlapping functions, jurisdictions and enforcement mechanisms.

“The ministry is of the view that the main challenge is not the absence of legal provisions on 3R issues, but ensuring the firm and consistent enforcement of existing provisions,” the statement read.

It therefore said the government, through a cross-agency approach, needed to comprehensively review the effectiveness of existing enforcement mechanisms, including identifying weaknesses, gaps and constraints in the enforcement process, and strengthen the relevant mechanisms.

In addition, the ministry said it would hold further discussions with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) to ensure greater clarity on roles and more effective coordination in addressing issues concerning social harmony.

“The ministry will also propose to Suhakam the appointment of a Harmony Commissioner to focus specifically on monitoring and advocating for social harmony from a human rights perspective,” it said.

The statement said the ministry, through the Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN), would also develop an Action Plan to Strengthen the National Social Harmony Ecosystem, integrating prevention, early intervention, mediation, enforcement and monitoring in a more structured and cohesive manner. — Bernama

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国家团结部将审查现有法律在宗教、王室、种族问题和仇恨言论方面的有效性和执行情况。

包括《煽动叛乱法》和《通信多媒体法》在内的各种法律已经对这些问题进行了规定，但有效执法至关重要。

该部将提议任命一名和谐专员，并制定一项行动计划，以加强社会和谐和执法协调。

布城，10月7日讯——国家团结部将通过团结事务管理委员会（JPIP）对现有法律条文和执行机制在处理与宗教、皇室和种族（3R）以及仇恨言论相关的问题方面的有效性进行全面审查。

该部今天发表声明称，需要审查的事项包括 3R 和仇恨言论的定义、管辖范围、重叠的法律条款以及现有法律下执法行动的有效性。

该委员会将由民族团结部秘书长拿督哈斯丽娜阿都哈密、内政部秘书长拿督阿旺阿里克杰曼博士、通讯部秘书长拿督阿都哈林以及首相署法律事务部（BHEUU）总监拿督赞里米斯曼共同担任主席。

“该部承认，目前已有各种法律规定来解决与3R（减少、再利用）、仇恨言论和社会和谐相关的问题。

声明中写道：“这些法律包括1948年的《煽动叛乱法》、1998年的《通信和多媒体法》、1984年的《印刷机和出版物法》，以及《刑法典》中属于内政部和通信部管辖范围的相关条款。”

该部表示，联邦宪法第 8 条已经规定禁止歧视，该宪法是该国的最高法律。

因此，该机构表示，任何设立新机构或引入新立法的提议都必须进行全面评估，以避免职能、管辖范围和执法机制重叠。

声明中写道：“该部认为，主要挑战不在于缺乏关于3R问题的法律规定，而在于确保现有规定的坚定和一致执行。”

因此，报告指出，政府需要通过跨部门的方式，全面审查现有执法机制的有效性，包括找出执法过程中的弱点、漏洞和制约因素，并加强相关机制。

此外，该部表示将与马来西亚人权委员会（Suhakam）进行进一步讨论，以确保在解决社会和谐问题方面角色更加明确，协调更加有效。

“该部还将向人权委员会提议任命一名和谐专员，专门负责从人权角度监督和倡导社会和谐，”声明中说。

声明称，该部将通过国家团结与融合局（JPNIN）制定一项加强国家社会和谐生态系统的行动计划，以更加系统和协调的方式整合预防、早期干预、调解、执法和监测等环节。——马新社

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刘先生表示，免税纳税人可以选择继续使用电子发票。

缅甸总统抵达马来西亚，遣返问题是关键议题之一。