YOURSAY 'It is a disgrace that in the 21st century a country claiming to be a democracy still wants to control the press and what is published.’

News weekly The Heat suspended indefinitely

Kim Quek: The arbitrary suspension of news weekly The Heat for publishing an article deemed unfavourable to PM Najib Razak and his wife is concrete evidence that the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 remains a draconian legislation, despite all the ballyhoo of an earlier amendment to the Act, touted as ‘reform’ towards Najib’s “best democracy”.

In fact, the same goes for other so-called legislative reforms relating to the Internal Security Act (ISA), Emergency Ordinance, etc - these are either cosmetic surgery or replacement of one notorious law with another one that is equally obnoxious.

Malaysians must realise that, on legislation alone, we are still a long way from a free and democratic country.

Ferdtan: First Astro Awani was reportedly asked to retract a news report about Rosmah Mansor’s usage of an executive jet despite not holding public office. Now The Heat has been suspended indefinitely for similar article on her based on veteran journalist A Kadir Jasin’s blog post.

For the blog article it is okay, but not the published report in the news weekly. We guess the ugly fact of the BN’s abuse of power, more so by their wives, must be hidden from the many of the readers, potentially BN supporters.

This shows the power of Najib - oops my mistake, Rosmah Mansor - that the Home Ministry had to take the unpopular action to suspend a news periodical.

With the amendments to the contentious PPPA, they removed the requirement for annual of printing licence renewal in 2012. To the self-styled ‘reformist’ Najib, before the crucial 13th general election, this is good enough.

However, they gave the home minster absolute discretionary power to grant or deny publishing licences. Many protested but as usual, BN leaders said, “Trust us - we will not abuse the authority”.

The day will never come if we can ever trust a BN leader.

Mushiro: The Heat suspended indefinitely just to protect Rosmah? Is the government here to protect the rakyat or protect the PM's family?

Not Confused: It's business as usual for BN - apart from the well-honed skills of corrupt practices, the other things they excel at include banning everything they disagree with, harassing those who disagree with them, policing and controlling everything in sight to ensure "conformance" with their views.

Malaysia must have the unenviable reputation for being the most heavily controlled and policed nation on the planet - so many different police forces for this, that and legislation designed to impose their blinkered view of the world onto a increasingly belligerent population.

Old Timer: It is strange that The Heat can be asked to show cause when it published the truth, whereas Utusan Malaysia has lied and lied and got sued, and yet it is allowed to carry on.

Pemerhati: This is typical Najib’s and Umno’s style, which is to try and fool the Malaysians and the world.

They practice apartheid-like discrimination against about 10 million Malaysians and then coin the slogan 1Malaysia and claim that Umno’s principles are similar to Nelson Mandela’s.

They abolish the draconian ISA and then imprison people using the Sedition Act. They do the same thing with other draconian laws such as the PPPA but carry out the same nasty, repressive and cruel acts by using other provisions as has happened to The Heat .

The reality is that Malaysians are now saddled with an illegitimate government which remains in power through fraudulent elections and despite getting only 47 percent of the popular vote.

They are essentially a dictatorship and the big question is how do you remove an entrenched dictatorship which will continue to remain in power as it can use its dictatorial powers to win all future elections through massive fraud.

Vijay47: While describing the prime minister as a big spender may not be the most complimentary of phrases, there is no law that requires that all reference to Najib be steeped in obsequiousness.

On the contrary, basic professional integrity demands that the truth be told, however unpalatable it may be to the person under review. When one assumes high office one must be prepared and mature enough to accept both the bouquets and brickbats that will come his way, one cannot seek to bask in flattery.

So what law of the land did The Heat break, what is the justification for it to be suspended? When Najib, his wife and diverse hangers-on constantly go on jaunts paid for by the public, calling such extravagance "big spending" is putting it rather mildly.

Yet once again, we witness the gross abuse of authority that has become the hallmark of Umno. If Najib feels his person has been libeled, sue the publication, let the courts decide. Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi can hardly be counted upon to be unbiased.

Cala: In the literature of institution and governance, the reasons that contributed to the progress of the West were their tolerance of differing views and a firm believe in finding the truth.

Out of this development, pluralism was embraced and absolutism was abandoned. From here the West made great strides in science and only the truth, nothing but the truth mattered.

Hence, if Najib, by refusing to look at the truth, is in effect practicing absolutism, not pluralism. How can Malaysia progress?

If by his conduct makes him a big spender, no amount of explanation could erase the people's perception of him.

Dark Knight: Surely, suspending the newspaper is improper and vindictive. If the paper had published anything deemed defamatory against the government or anyone else, they (the government, cabinet ministers or others) can demand an apology for falsity, failing which they can sue for defamation.

But to use its powers to threaten and impose their might is certainly unjustifiable and undemocratic.

Gerard Lourdesamy: This is freedom of the press ala Najib and Umno for you. It is a disgrace that in the 21st century a country claiming to be a democracy still wants to control the press and what is published.

If Najib or Rosmah are offended by the article just sue the publication for defamation. But why need to suspend the publication indefinitely? This is draconian and an anathema to the basic tenets of freedom and democracy.

Nothing has changed in Malaysia and nothing will as long as the BN stays in power. It proves that the piecemeal amendments to the PPPA was nothing but a farce to deceive voters.

With only 47 percent of electoral support, Umno-BN is provoking the people to take drastic measures if it persists in stifling their freedom and rights.

Hang Babeuf: An old saying, some old-time political wisdom: "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion". Prov.

The associates of public figures must not even be suspected of wrongdoing. (The ancient Roman Julius Caesar is supposed to have said this when asked why he divorced his wife, Pompeia. Because she was suspected of some wrongdoing, he could not associate with her anymore.)

Example - A says: I don't think the mayor is trustworthy; his brother was charged with embezzlement. B replies: But the charges were never proved. A responds: That doesn't matter. Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

Or again: When the newspapers reported the rumour that the lieutenant governor had failed to pay his taxes, the governor forced him to resign, saying, "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion".

The same applies here in this case with this cast of characters.

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