The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) strongly disagrees with calls to suspend Malay daily ‘Utusan Malaysia' for publishing commentaries with racial undertone and to penalise its author with the Sedition Act.

Freedom of expression thrives in an environment where members of the public are free to agree and disagree among themselves instead of censuring each other with restrictive laws.

On June 3, MIC president, S Samy Vellu urged the authorities to charge 'Awang Selamat' under the Sedition Act.

This followed the publication of an article ‘Melayu dikhianati?' (Malays betrayed?) published in his daily column on May 31, in which non-Malays were said to have ‘over demanded' on their rights.

The article and its author drew both supporters and detractors alike, among them prominent lawyer and former minister Zaid Ibrahim who rebuked the author.

However, calls by members of the public, as reflected in the ‘Vox Populi' forum in online daily ‘Malaysiakini.com' to invoke laws against the paper, reveal a reflexive tendency to stop discussion about race relations.

It is more disappointing that this is perpetrated by a leader of the biggest Indian political party who should have instead played a moderating role in such discussion.

Open and civil discussions on race and religion are instrumental for nation-building. Through such discussions, the norms and mores of free expression - such as the ethical boundaries - would evolve.

But to ban certain views, especially by giving absolute powers to the state to censor, is a grave violation of freedom of expression for the individual and the community.

We call on all political leaders and opinion leaders to emphasise the importance of dialogue and debates and refrain from demanding for the use of undemocratic laws.

We also urge the editors of ‘Utusan Malaysia' to create spaces in the newspaper for those with differing views and opinions on the issue and show that it is interested in constructive engagement.

CIJ reiterates that restrictive laws on freedom of expression must be repealed and our proposal for a parliamentary select committee be considered to kick-start the law reform process.

The writer is executive director, Centre for Independent Journalism.