DAP social media bureau chief Syahredzan Johan has decried the government’s enforcement action against former senator Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail as “disproportionate”.
This came after police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) supposedly took her from her home to have her statement recorded on a TikTok video she made about the government’s move to remove certain subsidies.
According to Aishah (above), about eight or nine police and MCMC officers came to her home yesterday afternoon. They escorted her in three vehicles to the Ipoh District police headquarters where she had her statement recorded during a grilling of more than three hours.
She claimed that her handphone was confiscated during her ordeal.
Bernama reported that Aisyah is being investigated under the MCMC Act 1998 over the video, but did not specify under which provision of the law this was carried out.
Syahredzan questioned whether the government was “uncomfortable” with Aisyah’s criticism.
“There is no reason why such action, which can be seen as disproportionate, needs to be taken against a person for merely making a TikTok video criticising the government.
“Is action taken against Aishah because the TikTok video has spread so widely to the point that some quarters are made uncomfortable?
“It raises the question of whether the government of the day now feels that a TikTok video could threaten their position to the point of compelling them to take such action? Is the government of the day afraid of a TikTok video?” Syahredzan said in a statement last night.
In the two-minute-20-second video posted on June 21, Aisyah declared that July 1 is a day of suffering for the people because the government will withdraw “all” subsidies on that day.
She urged them to rise up, reminding her audience that “you are kings and they are coolies” once the 15th general election comes around.
As of the time of writing this report, the video had been viewed 2.5 million times and “liked” more than 143,000 times.
On June 21, the government announced that subsidies for chicken, chicken eggs, and certain palm cooking oil products will be discontinued beginning July 1.
Subsidies for palm cooking oil sold in 1kg polybag packages would continue – a point that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob reiterated on live television the next day to clear the air.
The prime minister also announced an extra RM100 for Keluarga Malaysia Aid (BKM).
However, three days later, on June 24, the government rescinded its decision to remove ceiling prices for chicken from July 1 and said a new price would be announced soon, citing the public response to the plan to float chicken prices.
Syahredzan said the government should be cognisant that Aisyah’s video has gained traction because it resonated with the people who have long suffered from issues of subsidies and the prices of essential goods.
“The government is urged to give space for dissenting voices and uphold the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Do not silence those who disagree with the government,” he said. - Mkini
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