KUALA LUMPUR: Existing laws are sufficient to address issues involving race, religion and royalty (3R), and there is no immediate need to introduce a dedicated new law, said National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
In the Dewan Rakyat today, Aaron said the government is prioritising stricter enforcement of current legislation alongside preventive measures to safeguard national unity.
Legislation such as the Penal Code, Sedition Act 1948, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 remain adequate to handle 3R offenses, with enforcement handled by the respective ministries and regulatory bodies.
"We use a whole-of-government approach in handling these sensitive issues," Aaron said. "And of course, we must start from an early stage, at the school level, where our children can mingle with one another, regardless of race, religion and culture."
He added that the government is closely monitoring online platforms for content that could disrupt public harmony, particularly given the rapid growth of social media technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).
To counter digital threats, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) conducts routine monitoring and takes regulatory action, including removing unlawful content under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Beyond law enforcement, the National Unity Ministry is concentrating on early intervention and community harmony. Key initiatives include e-Sepakat, a digital tracking system to monitor potential unity issues nationwide; Rakan Network, a public reporting channel that routes complaints directly to relevant enforcement bodies; Prisma, a newly launched reference centre to identify, assess and coordinate early responses to sensitive social issues; and Community Mediation, a network of 617 trained mediators and local mediation centres set up by the Unity Department to resolve localized disputes peacefully.
Aaron said that the ministry's Unity Issues Management Committee brings together key agencies to coordinate preventive strategies, guided by a national framework designed to foster long-term social cohesion.
"All these programs are meant to ensure that all our children and young people can interact properly and foster a spirit of cooperation within the community," he said.
He was responding to a query from Datuk Willie Mongin (GPS-Puncak Borneo) regarding digital measures against 3R content and whether the government plans to introduce a comprehensive National Unity Act.
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