JOHOR BARU: MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong has welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s call to retain the Sedition Act 1948, but says there is a need to straighten out and review controversial clauses in the Act.

He said a review of the Act was necessary as more explicit clauses or sections had to be added to handle certain issues.

Dr Wee cited examples such as people calling for Sabah and Sarawak to be separated from Malaysia and those who turn the Malaysian flag upside down, saying that there was no proper clauses in the Act to take action against them.

Najib had announced at the Umno general assembly on Thursday that the Act would be retained and beefed up with new provisions to protect the sanctity of Islam and make insulting any religion a crime.

Dr Wee, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said it was a positive move to protect Islam and all the other religions in the country.

He was speaking to reporters during an event by property developer Mah Sing Group Bhd, which contributed RM200,000 to eight schools through its charity foundation.

Dr Wee commended the company and urged business corporations to each start a foundation, especially for the areas of education and medical treatment for those in need.

He said corporations which set up such foundations could channel a portion of their turnover and sales revenue to help improve school facilities and cover medical fees for families who could not afford them.

“These corporations can also enjoy some sort of tax exemption for their charity work or corporate social responsibility programmes under their foundations,” he said.

The schools which received RM25,000 each were SJK(C) Ban Foo, SJK(C) Chien Chi, SJK(C) Masai, SJK(C) Tiram, SJK(C) Peh Chih, SK Taman Rinting 3, SK Cahaya Masai and SJK(T) Mount Austin.

-The Star