The Cow’s head and Freedom of Speech

By dense

Let me point out from the beginning that I am a strong advocate of Freedom of Speech. In fact, I advocate that Freedom of Speech should be absolute, the only exception being when sensitive matters of the external security of the nation are involved.

For example, it would be inappropriate to speak freely about the Government's plan to counterattack an invasion of Malaysian territory. But it should be perfectly acceptable to discuss in public the extravagant waste of money in purchasing unwarranted weapons of war.

The recent incident where an object held sacred to Hindus was violated and abused by a group of Muslims in an attempt to emphasize their outrage at developments regarding the siting of a Hindu temple in their community is a classic example of how not to handle situations where individual freedoms are involved.

I have always argued that there are existing provisions in Malaysia to control and manage abuses of Freedom of Speech. For example, within Common Law there are laws to control gatherings that are seen to be 'threats" to National Security, there are laws to control Disturbances of the Peace, and laws to protect individuals and organisations from libel and slander. Are there laws to protect the beliefs of different religions? There certainly are laws to protect Islam but I'll bet there are none to protect other beliefs. Maybe there is room to debate whether there should be laws to protect the beliefs of religions — or should education take over that role? This incident highlights how those provisions were abused and suppressed by people with less than ideal motives.  

First, let me point out that Laws should be as specific as possible and not too open to interpretation by every Tong, Dileep and Hishamuddin who has a mind to manipulate generalised legislation to suit their personal agendas.  Worse still is when the police believe they have the right to interpret the laws as they see fit.

An example of bad legislation is the Seditions Act. Sedition is an outdated concept in any democracy and the fact that this Act is still on the Statute Books is an indictment of the neglect that is integral to BN's ad hoc system of unplanned and repressive governance.

Laws are made to protect the people and to enable the smooth running of a society. The Seditions Act might have been well conceived originally, but in 2009 it is being used to victimise, demoralise and control the people of Malaysia. This situation reflects the antiquated Islamic philosophy of governance where control and repression is designed to inflict strict unwavering, mindless control over everyone, Muslim or non-Muslim alike.

So the legislation has failed Freedom of Speech. Then the police failed the concept of Freedom of Speech. They should have stomped on the demonstrators immediately because it should have been apparent to even the most simple-minded of them that what was going on was illegal. 

Either they were placing their own interpretations on the law, as they so often do, or they were secretly and personally admiring the actions of the demonstrators.

Then the second line of defense of Freedom of Speech, the media, let Malaysians down. If it weren't for the alternative, Internet-based media, this appalling incident might have never hit the headlines. The mainstream media failed to report the incident until it was too late to suppress it any longer. I'm positive had there not been letters to the editor this demonstration would never have seen the light of day … unless they were supporting the Government’s stand. So the fair minded members of this society would not have been given the opportunity to voice their outrage.

The government through the Home Minister who should have stood up for the rights of all Malaysians tried to whitewash the whole situation thus demonstrating his personal biases and his inability to make judgements equitable to all Malaysians.

Their cowardly attempt to suppress the Malaysiakini video footage has to go down as one of the lowest of the low acts of a desperately stupid government who have totally lost any direction. 

So every body and every institution has failed Malaysians and have failed to support the concept of Freedom of Speech.

The final arbiter of Freedom of Speech would be that the Hindus should take the matter to court and sue the demonstrators for the invasion of their Constitutional Rights of Freedom of Religion. Who would be prepared to take on a bet as to who would win that case?

The vast majority of Malaysian are against Freedom of Speech in one way or another. Malaysians of all races have been brought up under a strict regime of discipline where children are constantly told what they can and cannot do, say or think. So, they grow up believing it's their right to control what other people do and say. Religions compound this repression by restricting questioning and every individual's rights to be the person they would like to be. Schools demand abject obedience and discipline. The Government  manipulates and controls the people to obey their wishes through a regime of fear and intimidation and violent physical suppression of any criticism.

If Freedom of Speech does exist in Malaysia, its of the type – "I agree with Freedom of Speech so long as you don't say anything that offends me … and I am so easily offended".

By maintaining that sort of stand, you nicely undermine that other myth and bastion of Asian Values that you so love to talk about, but rarely honour … Respect.  

How can you possibly respect another person if you can't respect his right to voice his own opinion?