Yes, Najib gives Utusan freedom to spew hatred

YOURSAY 'More freedom does not equal a free media. If the media is still subject to the scrutiny of the Home Ministry, we will never have a free media.'

Najib: I gave media more freedom

Quigonbond: I guess it's just Umno DNA to think that freedom of expression is something "given" by the federal government to the people; where Internet freedom is dubbed to equal access to mainstream media; and where news publishers and broadcasters are shackled by oppressive legislation that can withdraw their operating licences whenever they don't behave.

Funny how, despite previous criticisms, this government will continue to compare us with Thailand and Philippines instead of United Kingdom or United States. Do we aspire to be excellent or just below average?

There may be freedom in Philippines, but corruption is still rife such that media exposes bring mortal danger to the journalists there. Or perhaps that's what Umno is striving for.

Simon Lee 3ed5: Yes, Prime Minister Najib Razak, in fact you gave total freedom to your mainstream media (MSM), especially Utusan Malaysia to spew hatred and stir racial conflict.

You also gave total freedom to bigots like Ibrahim Ali of Perkasa and Jati chief Hasan Ali to do the same, stoking religious hatred, especially against the Christians, with impunity.

And above all, you not only condoned but gave total freedom to the corrupt to continue to plunder the nation's coffers where negotiated contracts in the billions are given to family members of Umno cronies.

Under your leadership, there is total freedom for the corrupt politicians and supremacist zealots to continue to dominate and destroy every institution in our country.

Ksn: Dear Najib, instead of praising yourself that you gave more freedom to the media, why don't you abolish the law requiring the annual licensing requirements for publications - the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984?

If you do that, there is no need for you to praise yourself, people will know that you freed the media from executive control. Anyway, freedom of the press is the people's right.

SMC77: Nonsense. More freedom does not equal a free media. If the media is still subject to the scrutiny of the Home Ministry and the PPPA, we will never have a free media in Malaysia.

Yum: Yes, it is true that under Najib, there is more press freedom, if you call the bellicose rants by one Awang Selamat of Utusanfreedom.
Anonymous: Najib, talk is cheap, action speaks much louder. We can't even find any of the reports on the 318 women's assemblyby the BN-controlled mainstream English and Malay media; but the PM sure gives a lot of freedom to the Umno-controlled Utusan and other propaganda machines to spin racial and religious lies and venom.

Anonymous_40f4: Unlike other countries, Malaysia has got no real media since 1988 when Mahathir sodomised the mainstream media.

Now all we have is Umno-BN propaganda, daily newsletters and TV Umno-BN vomiting cheap twisted propaganda and talk shows with turncoats like Dr Chandra Muzzafar.

Plainly: Najib, explain how exactly you 'allowed' for better media freedom. I bet you can't. The nine places improvement in the rankings was merely because nine other countries grew worse, that's all.

Please don't make claims which you did not truthfully earn. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Nik V: The truth is, for better or worse, it was during former PM Abdullah Badawi's tenure that the press gained a little more freedom. Then you came along and Utusan's audacity has gotten worse.

Dark Knight: There is so much talk about press freedom, like giving lots of leeway to Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider, yet the mainstream media such as the major dailies and television are beholden or under the control of the government.

Where is press freedom when the mainstream media is gagged and not open to the opposition, these only reporting news that is favourable to the government?

Sure, cyberspace is beyond the control of tyrannical governments. Otherwise, we would not have the Arab Spring and other forms of dissent from oppressed citizens all over the world.

Despite the ills and abuses reported by the alternative media in Malaysia, nothing concrete has been done to address these.

Abuses, mismanagement and corruption go on unabated, with the regulatory bodies doing nothing to stop or investigate these to bring the highly-connected culprits to book. That's the difference between the West and Malaysia.

Change: Najib must not just give Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insideras the examples of his ‘press freedom'; the main media are the ones already infested with Umno-linked editors as they know very well their licences could be withdrawn any time when they report/publish any news unfavourable to their BN masters.

Oscar Kilo: Please, only the online media is relatively free. The print media is still severely castrated. TV and radio are even worse. But it suits Umno's strategy of keeping the majority of the rural folks under the coconut shell while allowing the minority urban folks to rant and rave.

L Joy: Who is Najib to give freedom? Freedom to what, slander other religions or the opposition, shout racist insensitivities against non-Muslims and non-Malays, spread lies against the opposition, etc, while you remain quiet, so long as it benefits your agenda?

Fair&Just: Freedom of expression is lopsided - some newspapers can wantonly say all sort of things without having to bear the consequences.

Lim Chong Leong: This man has to praise himself because nobody praises him. Yesterday, he said he did well by raising the living standards of the poor Indians by spending RM400 million, but we don't see any effects.

Today he says he gave us press freedom but anyone reading Utusanwill be hurt by its poisonous racism. The Star and Sin Chew are no better when they reported victory to MCA chief Dr Chua Soi Lek in his debate with Penang CM Lim Guan Eng.

People know what you are talking about Mr PM, and it is utter rubbish.

Retard: Najib, you give press freedom, your cousin takes it away. - Malaysiakini