Thomas has a right to write, says Rafidah
Rafidah Aziz says someone in their autobiography had got it all wrong about her but she did not even bother to correct the person.
PETALING JAYA: Former minister Rafidah Aziz has defended Tommy Thomas’ explosive memoirs, saying the former attorney-general has the right and freedom to write about his life and his view of events.
Noting that Thomas had written based on his personal knowledge, she said it could be viewed differently by others but that this was no reason to call for his book to be banned.
In a Facebook post, Rafidah drove home the point that memoirs could not be written to please everyone and hence critics “cannot chastise or shoot the messenger” due to differences of opinion.
She said that if the writer was conveying the message from his or her personal perspective, then everyone should respect it.
“No one is allowed to guide me as I write my memoirs. I know what happened, what was said. It’s up to me to mention names or not. There is no ‘political correctness’ when putting pen to paper in relating one’s memoirs.
“Sometimes, the same thing can be viewed very differently by different people. What is klepto to many, is bossku to some.”
Rafidah, once known as the Iron Lady of Malaysia, said someone had written “untruths” about her in their autobiography, but she decided to let it go and did not even point it out to the author.
“The person got it totally wrong. Those who really know the facts can testify to the truth,” she said.
“Thomas has written his memoirs. We may have different views. But that does not give anyone the right to call for the banning of the book. It’s a worrying trend when there is no room for dissent, and diversity of views.
“Of course we cannot condone seditious acts and libellous actions. But then again, no one has taken real action on some misdeeds and misinterpretation of facts by some people. Although it has been made viral on social media,” she said.
Looking at the torrent of police reports and legal suits against Thomas’ memoirs, she wondered if those who were doing this had read his book from cover to cover.
“Are we behaving like cooks in the hot kitchen, who cannot stand the heat? Is the chilli too hot to take? Are we turning into a dictatorship?
“Don’t those people huffing and puffing about Thomas’ autobiography/memoirs, realise there are many who agree with his observations on what he knows about?
“Or do we only want to have memoirs that embellish things, sweeten the sour, deny the obvious, and simply take the safe line and go on the ‘play safe’ track?” she asked.
Yesterday, police received 134 reports nationwide over Thomas’ book, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”. He is being investigated for criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code.
Among those who had lodged police reports against Thomas are his predecessor Mohamed Apandi Ali and retired director-general of the Judicial and Legal Training Institute Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.
They have accused Thomas of criminal defamation and offences under the Official Secrets Act 1972.
Thomas’ memoirs detail the achievements and failures of the past Pakatan Harapan government, among other key issues, such as the prosecution of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho and 1MDB, the extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and the resignation of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Noting that Thomas had written based on his personal knowledge, she said it could be viewed differently by others but that this was no reason to call for his book to be banned.
In a Facebook post, Rafidah drove home the point that memoirs could not be written to please everyone and hence critics “cannot chastise or shoot the messenger” due to differences of opinion.
She said that if the writer was conveying the message from his or her personal perspective, then everyone should respect it.
“No one is allowed to guide me as I write my memoirs. I know what happened, what was said. It’s up to me to mention names or not. There is no ‘political correctness’ when putting pen to paper in relating one’s memoirs.
“Sometimes, the same thing can be viewed very differently by different people. What is klepto to many, is bossku to some.”
Rafidah, once known as the Iron Lady of Malaysia, said someone had written “untruths” about her in their autobiography, but she decided to let it go and did not even point it out to the author.
“The person got it totally wrong. Those who really know the facts can testify to the truth,” she said.
“Thomas has written his memoirs. We may have different views. But that does not give anyone the right to call for the banning of the book. It’s a worrying trend when there is no room for dissent, and diversity of views.
“Of course we cannot condone seditious acts and libellous actions. But then again, no one has taken real action on some misdeeds and misinterpretation of facts by some people. Although it has been made viral on social media,” she said.
Looking at the torrent of police reports and legal suits against Thomas’ memoirs, she wondered if those who were doing this had read his book from cover to cover.
“Are we behaving like cooks in the hot kitchen, who cannot stand the heat? Is the chilli too hot to take? Are we turning into a dictatorship?
“Don’t those people huffing and puffing about Thomas’ autobiography/memoirs, realise there are many who agree with his observations on what he knows about?
“Or do we only want to have memoirs that embellish things, sweeten the sour, deny the obvious, and simply take the safe line and go on the ‘play safe’ track?” she asked.
Yesterday, police received 134 reports nationwide over Thomas’ book, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”. He is being investigated for criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code.
Among those who had lodged police reports against Thomas are his predecessor Mohamed Apandi Ali and retired director-general of the Judicial and Legal Training Institute Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.
They have accused Thomas of criminal defamation and offences under the Official Secrets Act 1972.
Thomas’ memoirs detail the achievements and failures of the past Pakatan Harapan government, among other key issues, such as the prosecution of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho and 1MDB, the extradition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and the resignation of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
ban tis ban tat, many communist around.
ReplyDeleteR yr favourite Formosa & Yankee included?
DeleteThey too do yr best past time farts.
So everyone on earth r communists except those katak dwelled on that fart filled well.
Mmm...finally able to get back here after a spell of MIA, hehe...extreme workload finally off my back. And what do I find...Batty still so enamored with the communists LOL.
DeleteHis dumb and dumber batty brain obviously refused to acknowledge his tSAI heroine just simply shut down a TV station ( Chung Tien Television (CTi) in Taiwan simply because it is considered not pro-independence enough. The official spiel is : CTi is having "self-discipline" problem. Hahaha...indeed.
This is much better than banning, eh ?
Pordah la....same old same old shit with these 3 stooges here. Looks like I ain't missing out much, hehe