I refer to the Malaysiakini report Gobind suspended for one year .

A double whammy has befallen Karpal Singh’s family. First, the son was suspended for one year from attending the august house for linking the gruesome murder of the Mongolian woman to the deputy prime minister. And now the father, the fearless Karpal Singh, will have to face the law for alleged seditious statements against the Sultan of Perak.

If these two incidents are a prelude of what will happen when Najib’s takes over the country in a few days time, it looks like the bad old days when government machinery was used to quell dissenting voices is back again.

Even now people are afraid to voice their opinions after a few individuals were hauled up to court for allegedly making ill remarks against the Sultan of Perak on the Internet. But while one should cherish freedom of speech, it does not mean that one can slander or speak ill of others. The line must be drawn somewhere.

But still, if a member of Parliament cannot raise sensitive issue in the august house with immunity, what other avenues are available to the public to voice out their opinions? The government of the day should listen to their critics to improve and amend their weaknesses in addressing public issues which affect the common people.

Gobind Singh Deo did not make a racist or religious remark which could affect the sensitivities of the people of many races and religions in this country. Maybe the choice of words this new parliamentarian used against the deputy prime minister was a bit strong but does that warrant for him to be barred from parliament for one year?

As regards to Karpal Singh, being a senior lawyer who had in the past taken two sultans to court, the lion of Jelutong must have read his law well before he said that legal action could be taken against the Sultan of Perak.

This was in relation to His Highness’ role in dismissing the former Perak state government which was led by the opposition front. But we should let a court of law decide whether Karpal Singh has made a seditious statement or not.

What worries me most is that if public spaces are not allowed for free speech in this country, what other avenues are there for people to seek the truth.

If an MP can be suspended for one year just because he wants clarification in Parliament from the deputy premier on his link to the gruesome murder case, what other avenues are available to the common people to speak their minds on matters of public interest?.

The government of the day cannot silence their critics by using draconic and archaic laws to curtail freedom of speech in this country. Only weak leaders will use such methods to curb dissenting voices from being heard by the public.

We are not living in the past when news which affects the government credibility could be curbed by the authorities. News nowadays travels faster than light and with the Internet, it can penetrate every household in this country.

It will be an exercise in futility for the government of the day to deny their citizens from getting news from other sources rather than the lame mainstream news media.

With Dr Mahathir Mohamad looking over his shoulder, Najib will have to toe the old premier’s line as the incoming premier cannot afford to antagonise his mentor as he might then suffer the same fate as Pak Lah.

So it looks like the bad old days of civil liberties being curtailed, the ISA being used to jail political opponents as what had happened in the 80s and 90s might occur again under the new premier’s rule.

But once the genie is out of the bottle, you can’t put it back. Educated people nowadays are not afraid to demonstrate on the streets or speak their minds about corrupt practices and abuses of power by those holding the fort.

The people are not ignorant like before and cannot be controlled by government apparatus like what the communist countries are doing to their citizens.

Najib, if and when he takes office, will have to walk a fine line in governing this country. Use excess force to crush dissidents and you will suffer the humiliation of being thrown out of office at the next general elections.

Hopefully, the new premier is aware of the huge responsibilities that await him when he takes office. Time is not on his side and if he does not change for the better to win public support, his days in office are numbered.