A New York-based human rights group has reminded Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that his government does not have a “monopoly on the truth” and should stop resorting to legal action to curb dissenting views.

As such, according to the Human Rights Watch, Najib must allow himself and his officials to be subject to public criticism and critical journalistic coverage.

The NGO was referring to Najib’s recent threat to sue Malaysiakini over two reports which featured comments by its readers criticising his handling of the Terengganu political crisis earlier this month.

“Elected Malaysian government officials should not act as if they have a monopoly on truth.

“Holding public office involves a responsibility to listen to opposing views, not suing a media outlet for opinions expressed by readers to a website,” Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director Phil Robertson ( right ) said in a statement today.

Calling PM Najib’s move “heavy-handed” and “a fundamental disregard of press freedom”, HRW’s Robertson noted that government officials in Malaysia have long resorted to private lawsuits and draconian state laws to restrict freedom of expression and the media.

“Najib should recognise that being a political leader means being tough enough to take public criticism from voters and the media,” he said.

Robertson cited that United Nation's conventions and other international laws have purposefully given huge leeway to media outlets, journalists, publishers to be critical of the government or the political social system espoused by the government, for the sake of upholding human rights.

“No one may be punished for criticising or insulting... public officials... unless the criticism or insult was intended and likely to incite imminent violence,” Robertson said, citing a 1996 principle issued by international legal experts.

Robertson said that he therefore also disagreed with PM Najib’s speech on May 26 to National Press Club that “there is a difference between legitimate criticism, and defamation”.

Malaysiakini ’s editor-in-chief Steven Gan meanwhile reiterated that the nearly 15-year old news portal would fight any lawsuit threats.

“We are standing our ground,” Gan was quoted telling HRW.

HRW also noted that the Malaysian government had previously tried to restrict Malaysiakini ’s reach by blocking its attempt to get a publishing and printing licence. The case went to the courts and it was last decided in Malaysiakini ’s favour by the Court of Appeal in 2013, allowing Malaysiakini to apply again for a print permit.

 

Malaysiakini is the largest web-based news portal in Malaysia, HRW noted, read daily by 400,000 unique visitors.