GIVING Rohingya refugees in Malaysia the freedom to express themselves does not constitute criticising Myanmar, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low.

“We have a number of Rohingya refugees in the country, and they want the space to express themselves. I don’t think there are any restrictions for them to express themselves peacefully by abiding our laws, he said.

Suhakam Chairman Razali Ismail echoed Low, noting that the time has come for people to express themselves in Malaysia.

“The time has come for the people and the people who are here to be able to express themselves freely,” said Razali at a press conference after the opening ceremony of a regional conference on democracy in Southeast Asia.

The conference was officiated by former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

On the issue of Malaysia moving away from race-based politics, Low is optimistic.

“It is possible especially if there are more young voters. There are 3.8 million young people who are not registered as voters.

“The young people who are educated… would like to move away from race- and even religion-based politics,” he said.

Low cited Sabah and Sarawak as good examples of this.

“The people in Sabah and Sarawak think differently from the people here in the Peninsular.

“[In Sabah and Sarawak] politics of race is less an issue than in the Peninsular.

“If people demand political parties to move away from race and religion, then change will happen,” said Low.

Low in his speech at the conference said the biggest challenge for the country is to move away from race- and religion-based politics, and practice a democracy that is more bipartisan by looking at issues in relation to public interests. – September 2, 2017.