Be sensitive even though there's freedom of speech, says DPM

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 7 years ago · Published on 9 Jun 2018 9:09PM · 6 Comments

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail says there is a need to take care of manners and procedures when dealing with various people, especially the constitutional monarchy. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, June 9, 2018.

EVEN though there is freedom of speech in Malaysia, there is a need to tread lightly when it comes to sensitive matters, like those concerning the royalty, said Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The deputy prime minister and PKR president’s comments follow the resignation of A. Kadir Jasin as media chief for the Council of Eminent Persons.

“We need to have a degree of sensitivity, even though there is freedom of speech,” said Dr Wan Azizah after breaking fast at Dataran Merdeka today.

“We need to take care of our manners and procedures when dealing with various people, especially the constitutional monarchy.”

Kadir’s resignation comes in the wake of a police investigation into two blog posts on expenses allegedly incurred by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The veteran newsman has said he writes in his “personal capacity as a blogger”, and that the views expressed have “nothing to do whatsoever with whatever position” he holds. – June 9, 2018.

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Comments

  • If PH continues in this ind of rhetoric to gain the favor of the Monarchy, then, PH is slowly moving in the direction like what Umno does. Yes, the monarchy must be accord the honor n respect but that does not mean they should be treated as gods. Absolute power will inevitable corrupts absolutely

    Posted 7 years ago by Peace Maker · Reply

  • After GE14, I read that Dr. Mahathir our great leader said many Malaysians are uneducated ("kurang ajar") so he almost took up the Education Minister's portfolio, to effect improvements for them to be properly "educated". Among them are so called "outlaws" who either don't know or care much about the law or abuse it, so we need to correct this, and start with the school curriculum. Because law creeps into every aspect of our lives, that's why..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Freedom of speech should have no obtacles or being curbed when truth be told. The Royal Families are so used to be handed on Silver Platters be it food , power , respect ,financial or even the bending of laws to facilitate their needs. All these are accorded and the rakyat will go along without any fuss but when the Royalty overstep their boundaries and not in conformance with the constitution as well as over indulgence and truth are told to take a steps back and curtailed in the guise of respect and sensitivity then I would strongly tell the PH Government you are no better than Umno as we have already seen UmnoBN leaders telling off the Royal Household with impunity on certain disagreement. There was no holding back or boot polishing and just plain rude and coarse approach. Here the Rakyat are being very polite in just ensuring that their rights are fully uphold by the New Malaysia Governance with truth and not being short changed. So DPM can we all stop our condescending charade and get to the truth of the work.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • We will respect the royalties if they took care and spoke for the rakyat while the country was under the former kleptocratic government unfortunately this did not happened so how do u expect the rakyat to respect the royalties? When the rakyat were suffering then, not many royalties offered any help, so why surprise/upset now?

    Posted 7 years ago by Shanmuga Sundaram · Reply

  • Does sensitivity includes having to hide facts from the public? Such as red files? If you spent my money do I not have a right to complain?

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Tai · Reply

  • Such lavish spending of the rakyat's money. What's the difference between Rosmah and the Agong?

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Tai · Reply