Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been told to prove there is no “ wave of repression and climate of fear” in Malaysia, as alleged by Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Home Ministry’s criticisms of the global NGO showed that the federal government continues to be in a 'state of denial'.

Lim said HRW, which released its 145-page report detailing a long list of crackdowns yesterday, is not just any organisation but is registered as an NGO with the United Nations.

“If Zahid has nothing to hide, he should engage with HRW, and prove to the UN-affiliated NGO there is no wave of repression and climate of fear in Malaysia,” Lim said, after visiting the Hin Bus Depot in George Town.

“Prove to HRW that the federal government is not criminalising peaceful expression, when there are newspapers like The Edge Financial Daily and The Edge Financial Weekly which were banned, although they have resumed publication (after the High Court ruled against the Home Ministry’s ban ),” Lim added.

The two business newspapers have been reporting extensively on the 1MDB scandal before its editors were picked up by the police for questioning on a report related to the royalty.

“Many have been arrested for voicing out against the 1MDB scandal and RM2.6 billion donation which was deposited into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's private bank accounts,” he said.

Lim was responding to Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohammed’s remark that unlike Malaysia, Singapore still had the International Security Act (ISA).

Nur Jazlan had criticised HRW for not focusing on Singapore as much as it had focused on Malaysia for ' political reasons '.

Penang better than Putrajaya?

HRW deputy director Phil Robertson has described Nur Jazlan’s statement as ' pathetic '.

He said Nur Jazlan tried to change the subject because he has no plausible defence for Malaysia’s 'full-bore crackdown on civil rights and liberties, and dragging dozens of opposition parliamentarians, activists and journalists before the courts on bogus charges, in order to create a culture of fear, and silence critics'.

Meanwhile, Lim ( photo ) said criminalising peaceful expression was a step backwards for Malaysia.

He contrasted the situation of Putrajaya with that of Penang, where the state government has installed free Wifi hotspots all over the state, and recently increased the speed from 540KBPs to 3MBPs in George Town, which is a Unesco heritage site.

This was in stark contrast to Putrajaya, he added, with Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak saying that Malaysians prefer slower internet.

“Which would perform better? One who prefers slower or faster internet? Similarly, which would perform better? A state that celebrates freedom, or a state that criminalises freedom?” asked the DAP secretary-general.

“Which is better? A state that celebrates and uphold peaceful expression? Or a state that criminalises and creates a climate of fear as far as freedom of expression is concerned?” asked the Bagan MP.

“This is the contrast between the two P’s - Penang and Putrajaya. Which is better? Let the people decide,” he said.