KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) can serve as the platform for a debate between a lawyer and the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) to explain to the public the truth over the lawyer’s claim that Jakim promotes extremism, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said today.    

“Freedom of expression is not just expressing one sentence. You have to articulate it so that the people understand and can explain it further.

“In the context of freedom of expression, I feel there is no problem (for a live debate over RTM). We can ask the lawyer to come to RTM. If Jakim agrees, I have no issue with it,” he told reporters after launching the new corporate identity of Pos Malaysia here.   

Ahmad Shabery said the willingness of RTM to be the platform for a debate was to explain the issue.

Lawyers for Liberty co-founder Eric Paulsen was arrested last Monday and released on police bail after a two-day remand over an investigation into his alleged claim in a Twitter post that Jakim promoted extremism through Friday sermons. — Bernama