'Politicians shouldn't go after critics' - minister says amid Kedah MB's offensive

 

Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said politicians should not go after critics even if they make unpleasant criticism.

He said this when asked to respond to a series of police arrests and questioning against netizens who have roasted Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (above).

Sanusi had received scorn on the internet after he joked about makeshift morgues amid mounting Covid-19 deaths.

He publicly apologised but his office had also retaliated by lodging police reports against critics, sending the police after them.

Saifuddin said politicians should not go after such people if the statements they made, however unpleasant, are not seditious.

"I always hold the position that we should not take action against people who criticise us as politicians.

"As politicians, we should be able to reply or if unable to reply, should just keep quiet," Saifuddin told a virtual press conference today.

He added that politicians, as democrats, should accept criticism.

The minister then borrowed a quote which was used by author Evelyn Beatrice Hall to describe philosopher Voltaire and later popularised as a saying in defence of the freedom of speech.

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it," he said.

[More to follow] - Mkini