your say 'You do not have to look into your books, nor do you require 20/20 vision, to recognise the twin hallmarks of a tyranny: a subservient press and a subservient judiciary.'

 

Home Ministry suspends Suara Keadilan's permit

Singa Pura Pura: I repeated the words of Lord Justice Igor Judge elsewhere before and do think it is apposite to echo them once again here:

"You do not have to look into your books, nor do you require 20/20 vision, to recognise the twin hallmarks of a tyranny: a subservient press and a subservient judiciary.

"It is very rare in history to find examples of a society which enjoyed an independent, free press, but was marred by a subservient judiciary, or where an independent judiciary flourished alongside a subservient press."

The typical Third World mentality of the ubiquitous Umno politicians has always been, and continues to be, to ‘ajar' (teach) its opponents a lesson. Even someone from that side said they are sticking to the jaguh kampung well-water, completely oblivious of the rising tide of globalisation and civil liberties.

Swipenter: How many times have the Utusan Malaysia group of ‘waste' papers printed and circulated seditious and hate-inciting articles and yet the Home Ministry look the other way.

The press is ideally another guardian of democracy but here it is a propaganda machine of the ruling government - and the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) is an oppressive tool to silence all criticism, dissent and/or independent opinions of the government and its policies.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Right move - we should tell the whole world that this is the kind of press freedom that we have in Malaysia. It brings one back to the good old days of the Cold War when communist dictatorships used to ban publications and punish reporters and writers for going against the state.

Information Minister Rais Yatim should be very proud. Soon the government should lock up reporters, publishers and printers as well. Then we can join the ranks of Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Somalia, Cuba and Burma. What a way to go in the era of globalisation and open borders.

Foreign investors and businessmen should flock to Malaysia knowing that press freedom has been consigned to the dustbin, and that corruption, abuse and immorality are guaranteed to go unchecked and unreported.

The PPPA is an anathema to democracy, freedom and human rights. It should be repealed in its entirety. Otherwise, Najib Razak and his 1Malaysia should be flushed down the toilet together with this autocratic government.

Ferd Tan: In suspending Suara Keadilan , the Home Ministry once again is blatantly practising double standards in its actions. The opposition newsletter did not play racial sentiments to cause social unrest by raising the issue of Felda's financial position. There is nothing wrong with that.

On the other hand, Suara Perkasa is openly playing on racial sentiments between the Malays and the non-Malays. Even Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin finds the newsletter offensive and has asked the Home Ministry to act against the Perkasa newsletter for inciting unrest.

Mr Minister of Home Ministry, what are you afraid of?

Noraini Yousoff: Freedom of information and freedom of expression are enshrined in the federal costitution. To deprive any Malaysian or any sector, group, association or individual of this right is an offence under our constitution.

The Home Ministry's actions amount to that of thuggery, when they arbitrarily decide to suspend the Suara Keadilan 's permit. Hishammuddin Hussein is a lawyer who has absolutely no respect for the constitiution and he calls himself the home minister. This action is completely unwarranted.

Anak Msia: They suspend it even when it is under review, and the timing just happens to coincide with the expiry of permit. They are a bunch of fools and does that woman (Home Ministry's publications and al-Quran text controls secretary Zaitun Ab Samad) care to explain why Utusan is not suspended for raising controversial issues and why Ali Sahar and Ibrahim Ali are not prosecuted for sedition?

Kit Siang: What about the other 'Suara'?

Free Msia: No way they will take action against Perkasa. The invisible hand behind Perkasa is Umno. Heck! It is even supported by TDM (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) and Mukhriz. Despite Najib telling non-Malays about 1Malaysia, the people in his very party are supporting Perkasa. And Najib has no galls to go against his party members who does not buy his 1Malaysia nonsense. 1Malaysia, what a farce.

Anonymous: Dear Mr Lim, our KDN (Home Ministry), MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruptioin Commission) and EC (Election Commission) are only going after Pakatan Rakyat. Will Umno act on the ‘illegitimate son' that they themself created? No matter how much Umno denies, no one will believe Perkasa is not the ‘racist thug' to speak on their behalf.

Lim, you have our highest respect for your undying spirit towards injustice and for withstanding all the harassment from the BN government all these years. We will make sure we influence our friends to ensure a victory for Pakatan in the next GE. Only with that can we overhaul the whole federal machinery.

Suara Perkasa editors called up

Cala: On the history of mankind development, I read about the weak, the minority and the oppressed screaming for help as they fight for their survival. It is something to be expected of as natural as one understands human nature.

I have never read of a regime which is strong, oppressive and displayed tendencies towards authoritarian rules having to shout in order to defend their position against the weak, the minority and the oppressed. If Suara Perkasa is allowed to continue the way it does, one wonders if Umno-led BN coalition is embracing fascism?

 

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