‘Don’t give them easy excuse to shut Malaysiakini down’

Readers’ comments put Malaysiakini in MCMC’s crosshairs

Allforit: I am with Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak on this. It is so true that some comments are too personal and lack maturity.

For a healthy debate, one should refrain from profanities and being personal. There is no necessity in hitting below the belt. We should also be mindful of others, especially when it comes to race and religion.

Anonymous 1890491455255851: Yes, I agree people should be sensitive and be constructive when talking about religious and racial issues.

We should not be like those red shirt Umno Youth guys who are an example of how ugly people can be.

At the same time, if you are investigating people who write in news portals, you should also be hauling up the Pahang mufti. If that is ignored, how is anybody going to place trust in the neutrality of the authorities?

Mojo Jojo: This is obviously an excuse to clamp down on independent news outlets not beholden to the regime. No news is good news for these people.

I wonder who filed the complaint; the media czar himself?

Senyum Kambeng: The comments in the Malay news portals and websites are ‘lagi teruk’ (worse).

The readers there spew hate against the non-Malays, yet the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and Najib Abdul Razak’s government look the other way.

The groundwork is being laid to shut Malaysiakini down brick by brick.

Mojo Jojo: Harry Truman said, “Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.”

Anonymous #19098644: Bangladesh has openly banned Zakir Naik’s TV channel after the terrorist attack.

So should Umno Youth and the red shirts now demonstrate forcefully in front of the Bangladesh embassy for making Muslims angry?

Anonymous_1382244186: Look, we shout because we have no way to vent our frustration.

When you have alleged ‘pencuri’ and controversial preacher Zakir Naik and people like these, do you still expect us to smile and say thank you?

Not Convinced: Let’s not give this rogue government an excuse to clamp down on Malaysiakini.

I have no doubt that they are itching to shut Malaysiakini down. But we shouldn’t make it easy for them to do so. Be civil.

Journalist group speaks up against Salleh on taking action against Malaysiakini

Vent: Salleh’s plans to take action against Malaysiakini for reporting on Zakir Naik must be the most bizarrely pathetic plans yet. Who is he protecting? Us or a non-Malaysian Muslim ideologist with an alleged propensity for inciting terrorism worldwide.

His media channel has now been outlawed by the Bangladeshi government in addition to a long list of other governments to whom he is persona non grata.

And meanwhile, this minister wants to protect this preacher from us, the potential victims of his hate?

The desperation to protect a brittle state built on religious and ethnic separatism and a corrupt government has led to new heights of dementedness.

N1: Why is the minister protecting a foreigner like Zakir Naik? The readers of Malaysiakini have all the right to read the report published by a Bangladesh-based newspaper.

Salleh should explain to all Malaysians his reasons for trying to censor the media to protect a person that is being investigated by the Indian government for alleged links to terrorism.

Mojo Jojo: Public interest requires freedom of expression and a transparent government. What you are doing is clamping down on freedom of speech and censoring the media. I don’t see you as a defender of public interest, but just another alleged ‘cari makan’ politician.

Ferdtan: What? Malaysiakini republished a story from Bangladesh-based newspaper The Daily Star from a Muslim-majority country concerning a Muslim preacher who allegedly may have inspired terrorists is breaking Malaysian communication law?

Minister Salleh Said Keruak, go back to your ministry and discuss with your subordinates, the learned ministry officials, before you make yourself a laughing stock.

Politicians, correction, Malaysian politicians, do say the darndest things. So Salleh, take heart, you are not alone.

Cogito Ergo Sum: It’s not the Zakir Naik article. It’s the comments on the minister that have riled him.

I must admit, some of the comments have been rather derogatory in describing his responses to national and international issues.

In fact, he confuses both friend and foe, to the embarrassment of his boss, whose English is impeccable.

Anonymous 2398161454293761: Dear media personnel and organisations, stand firm and united against suppression of press freedom. Otherwise we don’t know who might be the next victim.

Let truth, transparency and justice prevail.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.