'Politicians shouldn't go after critics' - minister says amid Kedah MB's offensive
Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said politicians should not go after critics even if they make unpleasant criticism.
He said this when asked to respond to a series of police arrests and questioning against netizens who have roasted Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (above).
Sanusi had received...
Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said politicians should not go after critics even if they make unpleasant comments.
He said this when asked to respond to a series of police arrests and questioning against netizens who have roasted Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (above).
Sanusi had received scorn on the internet after he joked about makeshift morgues amid mounting Covid-19 deaths.
He publicly apologised but his office had also retaliated by lodging police reports against critics, sending the police after them.
Saifuddin said politicians should not go after such people if the statements they made, however unpleasant, are not seditious.
"I always hold the position that we should not take action against people who criticise us as politicians.
"As politicians, we should be able to reply or if unable to reply, should just keep quiet," Saifuddin told a virtual press conference today.
He added that politicians, as democrats, should accept criticism.
The minister then borrowed a quote which was used by author Evelyn Beatrice Hall to describe philosopher Voltaire and later popularised as a saying in defence of the freedom of speech.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it," he said.
During a press conference earlier this month, Sanusi made a joke when he reminded residents in Sungai Petani to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) against Covid-19 as hospitals there have filled up.
The menteri besar, when asked if there were enough containers to store the dead, had replied: “Containers for the dead are enough, who wants to go in can give their names.”
The remarks had quickly achieved infamy and attracted criticisms on social media, where netizens rebuked Sanusi for being insensitive.
The PAS leader had issued an apology the next day, and said that the joke was taken out of context as he only intended to say it to the journalists present during the conference.
However, instead of dying down with the apology, the controversy started picking up again when police started hauling up those who criticised the menteri besar.
As of yesterday, at least four individuals have been detained or questioned by police relating to the issue.
Cops have similarly been criticised for infringing upon the freedom of expression.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.