You can criticise me, but don’t cross the line, says Kedah MB

 

Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said those who are unhappy with the ‘container joke’ he made can report him to the authorities. (Bernama pic)

GEORGE TOWN: Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor says people are free to criticise him all they want – but they should not cross the line with vile comments which are against the law.

Sanusi said while there was freedom of expression, it was not absolute and should not become a licence to use abusive language, slander and make baseless claims.

An “innocent joke” he made with reporters was now being spun to cause hatred against him, which was unfair and unwarranted, he said.

Four people were arrested recently for breaching the peace and abusing internet laws for making comments deemed insulting against Sanusi on Facebook, related to a remark he made over the weekend asking reporters to sign up to be placed in shipping containers meant for the Covid-19 deceased.

Speaking to FMT, Sanusi said the recent arrests were not his doing as they were based on police reports made by his officers, who felt certain remarks had crossed the limits of decency.

“Social media should not be used as a place to libel, disparage, find fault with people, to curse and make unfounded allegations or to use abusive language or body shame others, on the pretext of criticising leaders.

“If there is an offence committed under the law while using social media, they will have to face the music.

“You can criticise, make suggestions but use the right language and facts. What is the use of abusive language when there are better words to say the same thing?” he asked.

Sanusi said everyone must realise that there will always be supporters and bashers. He said those making nasty remarks will naturally see a reaction from supporters, with some taking the law into their own hands.

He said this was likely the case of the four who were arrested, and the onus was now on law enforcement to investigate.

Sanusi said those who were unhappy with the container joke he made were free to report him to the authorities. The joke, he said, was meant for the reporters present, who did not take offence.

“That joke was never meant for the public but just for the reporters. Why are others angry when reporters in front of me just laughed along? This shows that they understood the joke in context.

“Why are they taking a joke I made for a different group of people as something serious, as if it was addressed to them? This was something that didn’t concern them at all.” - FMT