Let’s hold our comments until A-G, PAC report is out

Certain parties are urged to refrain from making further allegations about 1MDB until the audit report and inquiry findings are made known.

COMMENT

By Huan Cheng Guan

Does freedom of expression take precedence over the course of law or even investigations by the Public Accounts Committee and the Auditor-General?

While the ease of access to Internet connection has made some more informed, it has also led to the manipulation of perceptions by those who wish to influence public opinion.

Worse still, there is this tendency by many to assume that whatever they read on the Internet is based on facts. Many forget that allegations must always be verified by indisputable facts.

Recently, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) said that a trial by media brought no benefit to truth-seekers. It argued that the search for truth must be fact-based and conducted by trustworthy, unbiased, and impartial parties instead of those out to influence public opinion via the selective presentation of facts, lack of supporting evidence and biased reporting before the PAC and A-G had completed their reviews into the investment company’s operations.

In his latest blog post, Kadir Jasin questioned why a trial by the media would not be bad for 1MDB on the basis that ‘the mainstream media outlets like RTM, TV3, the New Straits Times, Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian are fully behind the government and 1MDB in the ongoing debate’.

It is not a question of whether the government and 1MDB has or does not have confidence in the ability of these news organisations to ward off the alleged attempts by independent news portals and “unfriendly bloggers” to mislead or influence the public.

It is not a question of whether ‘the public has every right to ask questions’.

It is a matter of responsibility not to incite citizens by offering emotional responses to condemn 1MDB or the government publicly before the PAC and A-G have completed their investigations to confirm or refute the many allegations.

It is a matter of principle to allow the PAC, A-G and other agencies the space to carry out their responsibilities without interfering or overstepping boundaries in the name of freedom of expression.

Reporting on such issues has triggered disturbing comments, which could undermine the prestige of the government and business confidence in our country.

Anyone has the right to lodge complaints but these must be carefully weighed instead of spinning issues beyond control.

Understandably, unhappy individuals take to social media or commenting in portals because they cannot voice their sentiments in the mainstream media.

Some may want to air their views to exert more control over the process of investigations. However, this is inappropriate given the fact that there are avenues for investigations by higher authorities.

That being the case, despite assurances by those parties assigned to get to the heart of 1MDB, there is an unending amplification of the 1MDB issues.

Just wait patiently for them to complete investigations, disclose findings, and then respond.

It is very simple.

Huan Cheng Guan is vice-president of Parti Cinta Malaysia