THE government has never considered enacting the lese-majeste law as done in Thailand, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong.

However, the de facto law minister did not rule out the possibility of such a law being created in the future to protect, preserve and defend the monarchy.

“We still want to protect the monarchy because Malaysia has in place a constitutional monarchy system, in which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the highest supreme authority as enshrined in the federal constitution.

“Maybe one day, we’ll have a new law if the cabinet decides it, or amends the relevant law to continue protecting the monarchy,” he told reporters in Kota Iskandar, Iskandar Puteri, today.

Liew was responding to a proposal for Malaysia to enact the lese-majeste law to put an end to acts of defaming, insulting and ridiculing the monarchy, seen to be on the rise.

The lese-majeste law is in place in Thailand and Cambodia.

Thailand introduced the law in 1908. Those convicted face between three and 15 years’ jail. – Bernama, February 14, 2019.