Is criticising an irresponsible leader a crime?

 

Kedah menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor joked about booking a place in a temporary morgue for those who were interested.

Did it bother him that he appeared callous and insensitive to the feelings of the thousands of Malaysians who had lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic?

The day after he made the crass joke, social media was buzzing with Malaysians venting their anger at him. Upset with the public’s response, the police were ordered to make several arrests. Why are the police and the menteri besar abusing their powers?

First, Sanusi claimed he was making a private joke with the reporters at the press conference. “I was joking with journalists who are part of my family but the joke was taken to be directed to everyone and made viral,” he said.

Why was he insulting the reporters and the rakyat?

Sanusi claimed his remarks had been taken out of context but that did not appease the rakyat. We are used to this oft-repeated phrase by leaders who wish to get out of their gaffes.

As no one believed Sanusi, he was forced to issue an apology. Would he have apologised if there had not been the enormous backlash against him? His apology was insincere.

So, why were various individuals picked up by the police, taken to Alor Setar for questioning, held on remand, had their phones seized and later released on police bail?

When did the justified criticism of a politician become a crime?

The menteri besar thought his joke was funny. It was not. Thousands of people have died. Children have been orphaned. Many lost a parent or breadwinner. People have lost jobs, their homes, their livelihoods, and others who could not cope with the pressure took their lives. Are these joking matters?

Sanusi’s aide lodged a police report against a pakcik in Negri Sembilan who uploaded on Facebook a video criticising the menteri besar. The pakcik was arrested at 3am and taken to Kedah, hundreds of kilometres away. After being grilled, he was released on police bail and his phone was confiscated.

Are political aides allowed to lodge police reports in this manner?

Last year, health minister Dr Adham Baba told Malaysians that one way to kill the virus was to drink lots of warm water to “flush” it down to the stomach. After he was ridiculed on social media, his aides lodged police reports against various individuals, who were arrested.

Also, the founder of the NGO Refuge for Refugees, Heidy Quah, visited a mother at a refugee detention centre last year and was shocked to learn that the woman, who had just given birth, was handcuffed as she talked to her. More importantly, her newborn was not provided with diapers or baby milk. The mother had to use t-shirts as sanitary towels and had to pay RM12 for a pot of noodles.

Quah mentioned the mother’s plight on her Facebook page, but it was alleged that an official at the detention centre felt slighted and lodged a report against her. Last month, she was charged with causing an offence and will face trial.

And again last year, a Russian woman, Valerie Azure, was stranded in Malaysia as she was unable to return to her home in Thailand since the borders were shut. She busied herself by volunteering to teach English to villagers at Pos Woh in Perak. A few months later, she was told that her permit to stay for a year had been revoked.

It was alleged that some people were upset that a foreigner had proved to be a “hit” with the Orang Asli. Azure had aroused the children’s curiousity to learn, had opened the minds of the villagers and, in general, showed the Orang Asli at Pos Woh and elsewhere that learning was not a barrier and the possibilities were endless.

She had appealed for help online from people who could spare old books and teaching items. The response was terrific. Despite not having access to official funds or the machinery of the state to assist her, Azure had accomplished much more than some officials in the rural affairs ministry and also the Orang Asli department.

In all these cases (and more), the incompetence of the Little Napoleons and even ministers had been exposed, through the sacrifices and kindness of individuals.

So, if these ministers, menteris besar and Little Napoleons are easily offended, why don’t they just step aside and allow more capable persons to take over?

If the Kedah menteri besar is upset when people call him names, arresting and charging them is not going to endear him to the public.

Why haven’t other leaders censured him for his arrogance? Why have his party members not advised him to act with compassion?

The truth is that in Malaysia, authorities want to discourage the rakyat from censuring their leaders. Perhaps arresting and harassing these individuals is one way to stop them from speaking out. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

✍ Credit given to the original owner of this post : ☕ Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

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