I'm free to express my own views - Charles
DAP lawmaker Charles Santiago has defended his right to express his views on the national security legislation in Hong Kong.
In a statement to Malaysiakini, the Klang MP urged MCA Central Committee member Chew Kok Woh to "take his fight" elsewhere.
DAP lawmaker Charles Santiago has defended his right to express his views on the national security legislation in Hong Kong.
In a statement to Malaysiakini, the Klang MP urged MCA Central Committee member Chew Kok Woh to "take his fight" elsewhere.
"This is a clear case of being desperate to stir the hornets' nest when there is no issue to begin with," said Charles.
Chew had called out Charles for signing an anti-China international memorandum together with 190 parliamentarians and lawmakers from 23 countries.
Chew said China was free to formulate any law and Hong Kong needed such national security laws to restore peace and stability for a conducive business environment.
He questioned if this was the official position of DAP and urged the DAP leadership to ask Charles to withdraw his signature.
Charles, however, questioned if the MCA leader was unable to exercise his freedom of expression due to his party's rules.
"I am just speculating here as he doesn’t seem to understand the simple logic which is that I have independent views which I can freely express as a person or a member of any organisation.
"For that’s exactly what I have done when I signed the international memorandum against China," he said.
"And it was motivated by my position as the chair of Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights and the Parliamentary Select Committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs.
"What was I thinking about when I endorsed the memorandum, you may ask. And the answer is simple, issues linked to human rights and democracy," he said.
Charles urged Chew to read up on the concerns expressed against China’s long-term desire to strengthen its hold on Hong Kong.
"Hasn’t he heard of words such as selling state secrets, treason, sedition that have been used by China to nab dissidents?" asked Charles.
"I am also against the thwarting of Hong King’s judicial system as the new laws drafted by China could see trials being conducted behind closed doors," he said.
"Having said that, these are my personal views. Any political party or organisation that values the inherent rights of its members will not ban them from voicing their opinions without fear or favour," he said.
"I can only conclude that Chew hasn’t experienced such freedom," he added.
Scratch a sub-continental and one could usually find an anti-China/Chinese racist underneath. Charles Santiago is no different. He endangers Malaysia's palm oil market in China after Mahathir nearly destroyed Malaysia's palm oil market in India with his imprudent remarks causing the price of palm oil to crash from nearly RM4,000 per tonne to below RM2,000 recently. Charles Santiago has no commonsense and should not be allowed to contest as a DAP candidate in the next general election.
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