Putrajaya has blinkered view of freedom of expression, says Marina

Putrajaya is fearful that allowing freedom of expression will benefit dissenters, says social activist Datin Paduka Dr Marina Mahathir. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 12, 2014.

Putrajaya does not appreciate the benefits of encouraging freedom of expression out of fear and an obsession with worst-case scenarios, said social activist Datin Paduka Dr Marina Mahathir.

"There is a fear among our leaders in Putrajaya that allowing freedom of expression will benefit the dissenting voices in Malaysia," she told a forum in Kuala Lumpur today.

She said that Malaysia's leaders always envisioned the worst case scenario, without stopping to think about the benefits of encouraging freedom of expression.

Marina was speaking at a forum entitled "Freedom of expression: a tool for harmonisation or polarisation" organised by Universiti Malaya's law faculty.

"For example, in 1999, there was a meeting on AIDS held in Malaysia and the issue of compulsory licensing over medicines was raised.

"At that time, the Health Minister asked me what was compulsory licensing, as it involved life-saving medication for AIDS sufferers."

She said they could give the minister a full and comprehensive explanation of compulsory licensing as they had done the necessary research.

Marina, who was the then president of the Malaysian AIDS Council, said this is why today free anti-retroviral medication was available in government hospitals.

"Putrajaya does not understand the whole gamut of freedom of expression, they always fear and constantly focus on the worst case scenario," she said.

"They think that freedom of expression would somehow diminish their authority, that women would freely walk on the streets wearing just a bikini."

UM law faculty lecturer Associate Professor Dr Azmi Sharom (pic, left), who also spoke at the forum, said freedom of expression was probably the most important right that Malaysians had.

"It is our first and foremost weapon or tool against oppression and repression."

He said that when former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was in power, he constantly spoke about economic rights.

"In fact, this was mentioned by all the Southeast Asian leaders of Dr Mahathir's era. If we are talking about right development, this is all good stuff."

Azmi asked why freedom of expression had to be curtailed in order to develop Malaysia.

"Is it because you want to develop a screwed-up country? Or you want to do things your way?" he said, adding that this paternalistic manner of thinking still existed.

"Look at the current crop of leaders, they look old and tired and should go home. But these leaders say we do not need to know things, they know best."

Azmi said corruption could only be exposed with the freedom of expression.

Global Movement of Moderates chief executive officer Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (pic, right) told the forum that in order to encourage freedom of expression, Malaysia needed to do more.

"Emphasis should be given to promoting human rights, reports published by Suaram and Suhakam should be studied and changes introduced," he said.

"Freedom of expression depends on every individual's view, whether they believe in upholding these sets of freedom or prefer controlling things.

"For example, in government ministries and agencies, would senior staff encourage and motivate the young officers to speak up?

"Or should tradition be followed and the young officers be placed at the end of the meeting table near the door?" asked Saifuddin.

He said those who believed in upholding the sets of freedom would go the extra mile. For example, new laws could be formulated.

"These new laws can be formulated to make things better, or to repeal archaic and draconian laws, so as to encourage freedom of expression to the fullest."

After the forum, both Marina and Saifuddin visited the Occupy UM students at the varsity's Kuala Lumpur entrance.

- TMI