The government must be open to engaging with activists instead of resorting to clampdowns or punishing those critical of the administration.
Global Human Rights Foundation president S Shashi Kumar said this after he gave his statement to the police at the Shah Alam district police headquarters this morning over his TikTok video questioning Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim presiding over a religious conversion ceremony.
“Rather than shut doors or punishing those who question the government, they (government leaders) should learn to have dialogue sessions with NGOs who represent the voice of the people, mainly those who are being victimised and marginalised.
“The unity government must learn how to accept criticism instead of using law enforcement against activists who speak out,” Shashi said in a statement.
He reminded that Malaysia has been part of the United Nations Human Rights Council since October 2021, and clamping down on activists and the media would violate articles enshrined under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.
Shashi (above) yesterday walked off from Bukit Aman after refusing to surrender his handphone to the police for investigation.
He said it was an invasion of privacy and there was no need to confiscate a phone for a month over a five-minute video.
The activist is being investigated for questioning in a TikTok video the role of Anwar in the religious conversion ceremony at a mosque in Klang last Friday.
In the video, he said the prime minister should leave such matters to the authorised Islamic departments and also questioned how serious Anwar is in battling racism, and unlawful and unilateral conversions.
Shashi’s lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan said his client is being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act.
“This investigation against my client is completely baseless and an utter waste of police resources.
“My client has merely exercised his constitutional right to question and criticise the prime minister. The prime minister must be open and willing to respond to any and all kinds of criticisms without resorting to and subjecting the rakyat to police investigation.
“Are we living in a police state? We urge the police and the home minister to immediately drop this unwarranted investigation,” Rajesh said.
Fellow activist Arun Dorasamy is also being investigated under the same provisions over a similar matter involving a TikTok video questioning Anwar’s act in presiding over the religious conversion ceremony.
Other critics have also argued that it is inappropriate for a prime minister of a multi-racial and multi-religious country to preside over a religious conversion ceremony. - Mkini
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