KUALA LUMPUR: The government will repeal the Sedition Act and replace it with a new law, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
According to him, a draft of the new law is being finalised, and is expected to be ready soon.
“We decided to repeal the (Sedition) Act and are in the midst of rearranging the provisions for a new law,” he said at a press conference in Parliament.
It was reported that the Cabinet had given its nod for the Sedition Act to be repealed.
In January, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong had said the bill for the abolition of the Act would be tabled in Parliament.
He had said the government would introduce a law to replace the Sedition Act’s functions.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) pledged to repeal the colonial-era law in its manifesto for the 14th General Election.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir refused to comment on efforts to bring back controversial businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low to Malaysia.
“I cannot answer on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police (Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador). He said it is close (bringing Jho Low back). He must know where the person is. I don’t know.”
On the recent sex-scandal video, the premier replied; “He (the IGP) said the police is in the process of investigation.
“Let’s wait for the outcome,” he added.