KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — Although several activists are optimistic about the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government’s promise to protect freedom of speech, they remain cautious pending concrete action.
US paper The New York Times (NYT) reported Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen, who was charged with sedition in 2015 over a tweet allegedly accusing the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) of promoting extremism, as saying that the new government has yet to drop the charge.
“As far as freedom of speech is concerned, we shouldn’t be naïve,” the human rights activist was quoted saying.
“We will see where it goes in the next six months or a year. Things are definitely opening up, and the press is revelling in its newfound freedom.”
US paper The New York Times (NYT) reported Lawyers for Liberty executive director Eric Paulsen, who was charged with sedition in 2015 over a tweet allegedly accusing the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) of promoting extremism, as saying that the new government has yet to drop the charge.
“As far as freedom of speech is concerned, we shouldn’t be naïve,” the human rights activist was quoted saying.
“We will see where it goes in the next six months or a year. Things are definitely opening up, and the press is revelling in its newfound freedom.”
Steven Gan, editor-in-chief of news portal Malaysiakini, told NYT that he had doubts about what could come next even though the change in government appeared promising for those who were prosecuted for criticising the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
“Promises have been made; the first task will be to ensure they stick to the promises,” Gan was quoted saying.
“For myself, having covered Mahathir for so long, I think the fear is that he may not stick to his promises,” he added, referring to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir, who became Malaysia’s seventh prime minister, was previously criticised for clamping down on free speech when he first held office from 1981 to 2003 as PM under BN.
After the 14th general election last month, Dr Mahathir suggested that the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 should be reviewed instead of out rightly abolished, but Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said later that the government hoped to repeal the law during the first Parliament meeting.
“Promises have been made; the first task will be to ensure they stick to the promises,” Gan was quoted saying.
“For myself, having covered Mahathir for so long, I think the fear is that he may not stick to his promises,” he added, referring to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir, who became Malaysia’s seventh prime minister, was previously criticised for clamping down on free speech when he first held office from 1981 to 2003 as PM under BN.
After the 14th general election last month, Dr Mahathir suggested that the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 should be reviewed instead of out rightly abolished, but Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said later that the government hoped to repeal the law during the first Parliament meeting.
Those like Steven Gan and many of us who lived during Mahathir's draconian dictatorship know his temperament and proclivity, unlike today's pubic-hairless Hell-Hounds who stupidly aren't aware of the devil within that old man.
We don't trust him as he has since GE14 shown his multiple reversions to his old self, hesitant on abolishing the Fake News legislation, perpetual or prolonged control (2 years, then 3, then I'll stay on as long as I am needed), profligacy in his expensive "hobbies" (new national car, build an island), dislike of Sing and China, and his Machiavellian manipulation of others, etc.
The HSR and ECRL were clearly unfair agreements to Malaysia, I would say there was nothing wrong with shelving them.
ReplyDeleteThe diplomacy angle can be sorted out later.
When the AFN Act as well others are repealed and retrospectively, then automatically all charges will drop against those so accused.
ReplyDeleteObviously there are a lot of people who now don't have close access to PH leaders but who continue to report and blogs speculative nonsense to make themselves remain relevant and popular. How tragic, No Access to them means No Press Freedom.
Wakakakakaka Buey Tann Chiak.