Malaysians were outraged when Johor police yesterday arrested a 76-year-old senior citizen in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya yesterday for an offence under Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communication Act 1998.
The senior citizen was arrested for allegedly sending an offensive image of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak under the name ‘Pa Ya’ in the WhatsApp group ‘Bicara Politik Melayu’. It seems to us that the allegedly oppressive nature of Najib’s regime has shown its true colours since the outbreak of his RM4.2 billion scandal.
Cabinet ministers, Umno leaders and government officers including top law-enforcers who work against him are sacked and removed from their positions. Political dissidents, social activists, artists and even ordinary Malaysians, in this case a 76-year-old, are subject to intimidation, persecution and selective prosecutions.
It is sad and leaves no doubt that freedom of expression in Malaysia has gone downwards.
What Najib and his coterie of advisers should be concerned about is why there has been a constant flow of criticisms against him despite the constant harassments and persecutions against his critics since the outbreak of his RM4.2 billion donation scandal?
What they must do is address the message of his critics instead of harassing and persecuting his critics. It would be more beneficial for Najib and his coterie of political advisers to ponder on these questions.
If after due deliberation, they still object to the wrongdoings of his critics, then Najib should institute civil suits against them for defamation, instead of allegedly abusing the process of the law and his office as prime minister to harass and persecute his critics.
I will offer my assistance in any way I am capable to this 76-year-old senior citizen. I have already informed community heads to assist me in this.
One must remember that Kampung Tunku is largely a residential area consists of mainly Malay elites, professionals, corporate figures and retired senior government servants. Many of them were former directors-general of various government departments, ministry secretaries-general, deans or vice-chancellors of public universities, etc.
If any Malaysian were to criticise the government, one will expect that residents from Kampung Tunku would be the least critical amongst all. To know that there is a 76-year-old senior citizen expressing his strong disapproval against Najib and the government openly speaks volumes about the low level of confidence the people have in Najib’s administration.
LAU WENG SAN is DAP assemblyperson for Kampung Tunku.
