There have recently been innumerable public statements, from the ministerial level to the general public, which assert that various people - or everyone in the case of the most recent statement from our deputy inspector-general of police - should stop discussing various subjects deemed inappropriate and dangerous.

The ambiguity of these statements casts doubt on Malaysian understanding of the principles involved in free speech.

Free speech cannot be either legislated or regulated by such terminology as ‘responsible’, ‘non-divisive’ or ‘sensitive’. The public relations effect of government officers attempting to forbid discussion of certain topics is basically dangerous and most likely counter-productive because it only encourages people to rebel against control.