DISCUSSIONS and studies on laws related to royalty, religion and race (3R) issues, including whether there is a need to introduce a new act, will be tabled before the cabinet next week, said Law and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said.

She said a comprehensive presentation on the first phase of the study will be done before any resolution is formed.

“The engagement sessions comprising focus group discussions and the recent 3R Legal Dialogue are not to discuss new laws (on 3R). I have invited legal bodies and stakeholders to discuss the direction as there are views that existing laws are inadequate.

“Some said there are (similar) laws, such as in Singapore and Australia. The cabinet had ordered the National Unity Ministry and the legal division to partake in the discussion.

“God willing, I will table before the cabinet this week the conclusions of discussions held earlier. This is the first phase but it needs many more discussions with various parties including non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and academicians,” she told reporters after the Madani Media Communications Convention in Kepala Batas today.

Recently, Azalina was reported as saying she would hold the first meeting to examine and refine a proposal to draft a new act on 3R issues.

Earlier, media reports said the government was studying a new civil act that may be called the State and Nation Act, similar to Singapore’s planned Maintenance of Racial Harmony Act, and that the proposal was presented at a cabinet meeting.

“There are countries that have harmony laws and countries that have state and nation laws, so we have to study all of that (before creating a new 3R law), but it is subject to the cabinet. Whether the cabinet wants us to do more research or discuss it again will be determined.

“But I think we need continuous dialogue from all parties to get the full picture, and we first have to study the reason for the act because it has advantages.

“Only in terms of enforcement do we face problems related to the confidentiality of names that cannot be traced, and artificial intelligence technology complicates the investigation and prosecution process,” she said. – Bernama, July 24, 2023.