HATE speech will be criminalise soon as part of the government’s reform agenda to curb racial and religious hate in the country, reports The Star today.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa was quoted as saying that it’s time for Malaysia to enact laws dealing directly with hate speech.

The minister, who is in charge of religious affairs, said he hopes a hate speech element is included in the Sedition Act and the Commission of National Harmony and Reconciliation be set up by year-end.

The commission, he said, would play a role of proactively educating, propagating harmony and mediating racial or religious sentiment.

“There are many laws used but in terms of race relations and religious hate, there needs to be specific amendments to address the problem individually rather than looking into laws which cover a bigger scope.

“It is high time that the government introduced hate-speech law because the rise of hatred between race and religion is now commonplace, especially if we look into what is being said on social media,” Mujahid was quoted as saying in the report.

The law on hate speech must ensure the standard of accusation is high and the definition of what constituted hate speech clearly outlined to avoid any potential misuse or abuse of the law.

Last year, Mujahid proposed three bills to curb racial and religious hate in the country – the Anti-Discrimination Bill, the National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission Bill and the Racial and Religious Hatred Act. 

Under these laws, instigators of racial and religious hate could face jail of up to seven years or a RM100,000 fine.

However, in April, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of national unity and social wellbeing P. Waytha Moorthy said the government would consider setting up a National Harmony and Reconciliation Commission instead.

Waytha also said the suggested provisions could be amended into the Penal Code.

In recent months, numerous issues have cropped up related to race and religious sensitivities, and the widespread dissemination of provocative statements online.

Last week Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said police intelligence discovered an increase in malicious tendencies to use race, religion and royalty as issues to stir discontent in the past year.

He warned that police will come down hard on these culprits. – August 26, 2019.