Dirty silencing tactics before by-elections

Government using GLCs to silence critics and the media

In a bid to silence opposition politicians before the coming two Johor byelections, the government through a GLC has successfully gained an injunction to silence any criticism of the Selangor Stadium issues.

The plaintiff (MRCB, a partner with the Selangor State government in the Selangor Stadium project) gained an interim injunction against a politician/activist Abdul Razak bin Ismail. FMT Media, Sinar Karangkirak and the New Straits Times Press to stop posting and/or publishing and post or media in relation to the Selangor Stadium issue. This means that Abdul Razak cannot talk about the Stadium issue in the Pulai Parliamentary seat, and Simpang Jeram state seat, where he is campaigning.

David and Goliath: Abdul Razak Ismail fighting against corruption and for transparency in government. Bullied by a GLC, that would prefer not to answer questions.

Abdul Razak has pointed out a number of anomalies and breach of government procedures in the tendering for the Selangor Stadium project. He tried to gain answers from the Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari. Rather than answer any questions, the strategic partner/contractor with the Selangor State government took legal action for defamation against Razak, and has now obtained an injunction, effectively silencing any questioning to the Selangor government on the project.

The media companies mentioned in the injunction are forbidden to write, print, or publish anything about the Selangor Stadium project.

This is an attack on the fairness of political campaigning, freedom of speech, and press freedom. Most importantly of all, this completely erases transparency of government, when issuing contracts to corporations, outside the tendering process.

This is yet another tool in the arsenal of weapons the government is using to silence critics, and questions about the processes of government.

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