In Malaysia, there exist pro-censorship liberals

Free Malaysia Today gave space to report Dato Saifuddin Abdullah call for media editor to censor those they dubbed as "extremist". [Read here.]

That got a response from UIA lawyer at Zulrafique and Partners with a Masters from Cambridge, Lukman Sheriff Alias. In his FB , he criticised the hypocrasy in the views taken by liberals in the likes of Saifuddin. His FB posting below: 

To the liberals their views should not be censored as they are exercising the right of free speech and expression. They have long argued that any restriction of their right to free speech is unconstitutional and illegal.

For the past few years they have thus spoke on everything. There is no sacred cow: from religion to race to anything against the constitution. This is part of free speech. No barrier and limits. 

Thus to them for example it's perfectly alright to promote secession of our country despite it being against our constitution. It's acceptable to insult our Sultan or many long held traditions of muslims as part of free speech. It's also fine to fabricate lies against our religious authorities as its part of free speech. Those on receiving end they reminded must learn to tolerate opposing views. These are not extreme views.

This is the new Malaysia to them. The moderate Malaysia. And they pursued their agenda and even succeeding in pushing us to the left.

But every action there is a reaction. 

Many are unhappy with the numerous challenges by the left to the time tested values of our social cohesion. The current result is a scenario opposite to what they had ever fathomed. We not only now strengthened the Sedition Act and enacted POTA, but on the verge of enacting Hudud which they dread so much.

Their modus operandi is simple. Categorise themselves as moderates and those who disagree as extremists. They decide and dictate who are moderates and extremists. 

So even though they are against sedition act, they have in no uncertain terms ensured that Isma be charged for sedition in uttering the word "pendatang" or migrant.

So as the nation is moving to the right, they are now left with fewer options. They now have decided to restrict and censor the views of whom they arbitrarily call extremists. They have called on editors of the media not to provide coverage so as their views become dominant. 


This is what freedom of speech has boiled down to for them. An incoherent or hypocritical logic of principles. A malicious devious manipulation of media for their self serving purpose. This is what moderates mean in Malaysia.


Go to the FB here for the ensuing discussion

-Another Brick in the Wall