Abuse of freedom of speech undermining racial harmony

BELIEVE it or not, in Malaysia, the freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution.

Everybody is free to speak, write or do anything, provided it is not against the law.

However, nothing restricts or limits this freedom except federal legislation.

If Parliament does not act, anything goes.

Among the most frequently abused freedom is in respect of the law of libel and slander.

For sheer fun or out of jealousy, human beings are prepared to spread lies about each other with the intention of lowering someone in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally.

Another law often flouted is the law of sedition.

At one stage in the recent past, there was an attempt by certain intellectuals in the country to abolish that legislation.

However, don’t go away with the impression that Malaysia is a lawless society – not yet.

Daily life goes on as usual.

In many activities, discipline is still the mainstay of human behaviour; religious practices continue to play an important role on earth; the police are responsible for keeping law and order; the judiciary for law interpretation and punishment; the Armed Forces and other security apparatus are ready to defend our borders.

Taxes are being collected regularly; our traders are selling and buying goods from other countries.

Foreign relations are good.

Elections to legislatures have been held regularly – except when there was an attempt by the politicians to experiment with a new form of government via the Statutory Declaration.

The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong was blackmailed into appointing the Prime Minister, by-passing His Majesty’s powers as provided for in the Constitution.

Mind you, many politicians in the country are still harbouring the thoughts of attempting to form the ‘Tebuk Atap’ or ‘Pintu Belakang’ governments given half the chance.

Amidst the apparent calm and tranquillity, however, there is a resurgence of unbridled freedom of speech that is not good for the country in the long run.

Freedom to give and accept bribes; freedom to resort to nepotism; freedom to use religion as a political weapon – all these are having the tendency to disrupt peace and harmony long nurtured by generations of Malaysians.

I have been listening to podcasts, radio talks and interviews in the mass media.

I listen to speeches in Parliament too.

That’s where I got all this information.

I think there is too much abuse of the freedom of expression on a regular basis.

Anybody can be a journalist, a political commentator, political or economic analyst, a reporter or a photo-journalist.

Anybody who is good at talking to the microphone may start a studio stuffed with recording and transmission equipment.

The aim – to convince listeners that what comes from this source is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The target audience can be anybody under the sun: gullible members of the public, decision-makers, political parties grabbing instant power, business groups competing for favours and influence from people in authority, bloggers of rival channels or enemies (real or imagined) – the list is long.

Statements laced with racial hatred, seditious tendencies, religious extremism, libel and slander, falsehood, and half-truths are corrosive in terms of sustaining the good relations between ethnic groups in this country.

Fortunately, the number of speakers is small, but if left unchecked, it may increase.

Whoever said it, please stop repeating it. I don’t approve of the daft thing.

The suggestion that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 should be cancelled has gone viral.

Who made such preposterous proposal? Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, a former law minister in the federal government, during the airing of a podcast.

Hopefully, not many people in Malaysia would pick up his idea.

I suggest the rest of us treat it as his personal opinion thrown into the pigeons.

One swallow does not make a summer.

Other Malaysians are not easily swayed by the rhetoric; many among them prefer to work to improve the system quietly.

It is often said that Rome was not built in a day; Malaysia is here to stay.

At best, Zaid’s statement, in terms of exercising the freedom of speech, is a personal opinion that does not carry much weight.

But when he encroached on the history of the formation of Malaysia, he was not being fair when he blamed the British government, the Tunku and other leaders at the time, and the naivety of Malays who had accepted the proposal for the merger between the Federation of Malaya and the colonies of North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore.

Zaid’s statement is an excellent example of the freedom of speech being blatantly abused.

I was also listening to the comment by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the effect that Sabah and Sarawak were poor before they were merged with the Federation of Malaya, and by implication, became rich after the merger and after the coming into operation of the Petroleum Development Act 1974.

Poor colonies, yes, and are still poor after Merdeka (Independence) and the creation of Petronas in 1974, compared to Peninsular Malaysia in terms of physical infrastructure.

With reference to discovery of oil in the context of Petronas and the formation of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir got his information wrong – and I suspect he knows that – but he counts on the ignorance of his devoted audience.

Oil was discovered in Miri to be exact – and Miri is in Sarawak – some 53 years before the birth of Malaysia; long before the coming into operation of Petronas.

This is the sort of stuff that one hears on many podcasts or blogs.

It shouldn’t have come from the mouths of prominent people.

Freedom of speech belongs to everybody, distortion of historical facts and half-truths, notwithstanding.

In the past, only government-owned and government-licensed broadcasting stations were allowed to disseminate information to the public.

Nowadays, such a licence is not necessary; hence, the profusion of cyber-troopers who are controlling the airwaves.

Going back to the past is not possible, but learning from past mistakes is useful.

How can we neutralise the toxic statements?

One swipe of the hand – better law enforcement.

The virulent anti-Malaya sentiment is uncalled for, unnecessary and downright daft.

I say stop it. I don’t like it. It does nobody any good.

Person-to-person relationship between Malaysians is crucial for the sustainability of the Federation.

Malaysia is here to stay. It is our only home, warts and all!

It would be a much better place if people were law-abiding and being careful with what they utter or write; self-censorship; self-control.

What is happening to ‘Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan’, the fifth tenet of the ‘Rukun Negara’ (National Principles)?

Our present system of government is not the best, but it is as practicable as can be, depending very much for its viability and longevity on the integrity of those entrusted with the mandate to rule.

Now it’s my turn to exercise my right to freedom of speech – dear esteemed readers of this column, come the General Election, and choose good lawmakers.