Press Statement: MCMC’s police report against writer Murray Hunter is high-handed and has a chilling effect on freedom of speech
Lawyers for Liberty
LFL Director Zaid Malek
After my article yesterday the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission filed a police report against me and made a press release. Yesterday’s article below:
Lawyers For Liberty (LFL) director Zaid Malek made the following statement.
30 April 2024
We refer to action of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission( MCMC) in lodging a police report against well-known writer Murray Hunter over his claims that the MCMC has become ‘politicised’ under the current government.
It is unnecessary and high-handed for a public body to resort to lodging police reports for ‘defamation’ as if they were a private person. A public body, funded by tax-payers monies, has no business to complain of defamation. They must accept public criticism, even if it is harsh, as they are public servants. If any criticism is unfounded, it is open to them to respond and clarify. It is not open to them to file criminal complaints against legitimate criticism.
Further, it highly unfair for a member of the public to be faced with a police complaint from a major public body such as the MCMC. There is no equality of arms or equal playing field here. Can Murray Hunter expect a fair investigative process in these circumstances?
Freedom of speech and expression, protected under article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, is one of the pillars of our democracy. This right must be especially protected is when the public voice dissent or criticism against the government or public institutions.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil must take full responsibility for the actions of the MCMC in lodging police reports against the public over legitimate criticism. His repeated denials that freedom of speech has been stifled under the current government rings hollow in light of this oppressive conduct of the MCMC, which is an institution under his own Ministry.
The government cannot keep claiming that they are reformists when they keep using the same authoritarian playbook, and wield oppressive laws against critics. Freedom of speech and expression will be rendered illusory and meaningless if the government takes criminal action against anyone criticising them or public bodies. We urge the government to arrest this plunge into authoritarianism and uphold the constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of speech and expression.
Issued by:
Zaid Malek
Director
Lawyers for Liberty
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Very well said on the part of Zaid Malek.
Now we wait for that to be read s l o w l y and many many times till at least more than half-understood by the clowns in the MacDani circus.
The clowns in the MacDani circus must know they've got to attend every class to learn fast it is not a done thing using the heavy hand when it comes to stifling free speech. Attempts at that have always failed - and worldwide too.
Right now we've the fascist iron fist of the Yank gomen attempting to suppress the students of Columbia and many other universities. We've same for universities worldwide. These will all fail, history has shown that. Students have ended wars, for example, the Vietnam War. Students have brought down gomens.
We never had any bright sparks in any of our gomens but that doesn't mean this gomen should compete at being dull and hopeless like other gomens. It can (and should) learn, learn fast and for once, not suppress freedom of expression.
Those in gomen, while not exactly from the better of the political species we should have, could still make strong effort to improve on their inability to honestly serve the public, for once, perform like a proper gomen should - in the interest of the people.
For once, find the balls, the testicles, both of them, to do right. And if you haven't even a single ball, then at least a tiny little shrivelled raisin to admit you ain't got it, step down.
The Hunter may be the hunted, but, mark the words of a punter, he's well-equipped to take the clown monkeys on, Alhamdullilah! But, do carry on with the hard boy's act, we all love to watch a good fight. So turn up the screw, stand your ground, fortify your ego, honestly give your best - don't be half-hearted no fighting spirit surrender monkeys, let's see the Hunter gets the monkeys in the end, Alhamdullilah!
Study of forms shows in a fair fight, censorship honcho is too fat, hardly mobile, doesn't know the law, has misplaced smug idiotic grin, shifty look, the "feng shui" is against him, the betting odds too. Foreign Angmoh uncle at least looks like he's spoiling for a fight, would roll up sleeves and trouser legs, give as good as he gets from the Fat Controller's two sens' worth.
In a fair fight, I won't bet five sens Fat Controller would win without making an ass of himself. And a winged donkey of his abu backers in the gomen. If anything, it's best to take Angmoh to the side, shake hands, offer
a title for free, datuk or something... the usual Bolehland approach. And maybe do a "Zakir Naik", give him permanent residence for our goat-forsaken land...
Yeah, ringside MMA seat for me, a good scotch and a fine cigar, and Ah Long's yer Uncle, Alhamdullilah!