Freedom of expression no license to insult national administration, says minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 ― Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said today the people are entitled to express differences of opinion but they cannot condemn and insult the country's leaders and administrative institution.

He said the people should not engage in a culture of opposing the national democratic system, especially putting pressure on the administrative system of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak through the social media.

“As a democratic country, Malaysia gives its people room to express differences of opinion but they cannot freely condemn and insult our leaders and the institution of the Prime Minister (national administration).        

“Democracy recognises differences of opinion but insult and slander are not the culture and practice of Malaysian society,” he said when launching the book If A Cat Had Nine Lives ― The Legacy of Najib Razak in conjunction with the 40^th anniversary of Najib's involvement in politics, here.

Salleh said there was much perception than reality in the environment perpetrated by the social media that demanded drastic action to lessen or cease the negative impact on society.

“In that context, we are talking about the need to change from a situation where there is too much politicking and responding to baseless accusations and allegations ceaselessly hurled at the Prime Minister's administration,” he said.

Salleh said this matter could not be allowed to go on.

“We have the right to express opinions and views but we must remember that we do not have the right to destroy the nation.

“We have freedom of speech but we do not have freedom to destroy because we have built this nation of ours as an independent state and the people are living in peace,” he said.

On the book, written by Ismail Noor under the pen name Ron Liamsi, Salleh said the non-fiction book written in the form of satire should be read by people of all walks of life to open their mind to issues of today.

He said the satirical writing was aimed at drawing the attention of the reader to certain issues, including social, that shackled society. ― Bernama