LAWYERS for Liberty today reproached Fahmi Fadzil for ordering enforcement officers to clear his name over a purportedly libellous poster alleging the communications and digital minister wanted to blame PAS for the Good Vibes Festival debacle.

LFL director Zaid Malek was referring Fahmi’s demand for a report to be filed to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over a poster accusing him of instructing government-friendly parties to blame PAS for the cancellation of the music festival.

“It is a clear abuse of power that a minister has ordered or set in motion an enforcement authority under his direct control for an investigation into an alleged libellous poster about himself,” said Zaid in a statement.

“The ministry and its agencies are not there for Fahmi’s personal benefit, to utilise for his personal use.”

Yesterday, Fahmi slammed the people behind the poster and said his office will report the matter to the MCMC and the police.

The poster, went gone viral on social media, said Fahmi had given instructions for PAS to be portrayed as an extremist party to shift the blame from the minister, who had permitted controversial UK band, The 1975, to perform in Malaysia.

The band’s performance at the festival was stopped after its vocalist Matty Healy drank alcohol and kissed his male bandmate on stage. He also made a long, rambling speech about Malaysia’s LGBT laws. The festival was subsequently cancelled.

Zaid said the minister’s direct involvement in the matter would place undue pressure on the enforcement agency and the investigation. 

“He (Fahmi) cannot on a whim utilise the authorities under his jurisdiction to subject his political detractors to criminal investigations,” Zaid said.

“Fahmi holds no special status to be free from criticism or to use government machineries to clear his own name.”

Zaid said Fahmi could file a civil suit for defamation if he was aggrieved by the poster.

“There is no legal basis to involve the enforcement authorities simply to clear allegations that were made against Fahmi. Indeed there is a whiff of Stalinism about this kind of ministerial conduct.”

He said the Pakatan Harapan-led government has shown no qualms about state organs to hound its political opponents ever since it has taken power. 

“This dictatorial style of governance was not what voters hoped to see when the PH-led government was formed.

“We hereby urge minister Fahmi Fadzil not to abuse his powers in this egregious manner and to withdraw his orders for the MCMC to investigate the allegations made against him in the poster, and file a civil suit instead if he so wishes.”

Zaid urged government leaders to refrain from setting the enforcement agencies on their critics unless there is an actual threat of violence or injury.

Enforcement bodies do not exist to protect the image of the government, he added.

“In all situations, the government’s image is not a justifiable reason for the limitation of free speech in any manner.” – July 26, 2023.