EARLIER this week, a young lawyer, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, was hauled up by the authorities over an article she wrote questioning the power of the monarchy.

The feisty human rights lawyer challenged the need for the royal institution, labelling it a “feudal relic” that was no longer relevant in modern day Malaysia.

For her troubles, Fadia now faces jail time and fines if charged under Section 4 of the Sedition Act, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act and Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act.

When asked for her thoughts shortly after her first questioning session, Fadiah told reporters that everyone had a right to criticise those in power.

Sadly, she might just have been mistaken.

Pakatan Harapan’s victory in the 14th general election personified the fairy tale ending that makes up every underdog’s dream. 

A frazzled coalition, slaying the mighty Barisan Nasional with all of its election machinery, almost-unlimited funds and 62 years of experience in rigging and winning an election, captured the imagination and hopes of most Malaysians.

May 9 has since come to symbolise the day the “reset” button was hit for Malaysia as we wade through the unchartered waters of an entirely new government, albeit with a familiar prime minister.

Fresh out of pulling off the region’s most spectacular electoral results in recent history, Malaysians have become emboldened to talk about that which was previously unspoken.

What had prompted Fadiah to boldly challenge the relevance of the royalty – a topic that has caused journalists, politicians and activists to be jailed – was the same chutzpah that led Pakatan Harapan supporters to believe they could defeat the Goliath of Malaysian politics in GE14.

A German friend once asked me if I thought that the press was free in Malaysia, to which I answered honestly that it was, if one chose to tread carefully.

In Malaysia’s case, the three no-go issues for the press would be the special privileges of the Bumiputeras, the role of the monarchy and, increasingly in recent years, the intrusion of a toxic interpretation of Islam into the lives of non-Muslims.

He was surprised that Malaysian journalists had come to accept and masterfully learn to skit around these clearly defined boundaries. Truth be told, it is not only members of the media who are guilty of this.

Sidestepping the elephants in the room was a norm for Malaysians; concessions were made in the “old” Malaysia simply because we never believed that voicing out would change anything.

We have been warned time and time again not to speak of, or to challenge, the effectiveness of race-based policies in the name of protecting one community’s rights.

We have been told that to question the relevance, behaviour and morality of the monarchy is to commit cardinal sin.

And we have been forced to accept that, even though our Federal Constitution clearly shows our nation was founded on secular principles, we are somehow now an Islamic nation.

Regardless of whether or not one agrees with Fadiah’s opinion, her right to voice it out must be held sacred. There is no room for the convenient safeguarding of “sensitive issues” in a new Malaysia.

We must push the boundaries and have conversations about the topics that most of us discuss and complain about in private, but had never dared to bring up in public. And it must happen now before familiarity and arrogance sets in to our new leaders.

Calling in a young lawyer for questioning reeks of the fear tactics so commonly used by the authorities in the past, and was what kept the press and the people silent in the face of increasing oppression, corruption and mismanagement of the country.

If it indeed is serious in its pledge of leading our country on a different, better path, Pakatan Harapan will need to do much more to stop this culture of fear that its supporters have lived under for most of their lives.

After all, if our desire to change was strong enough to vote a fractured, imperfect and novice coalition into power, it will be strong enough to vote it out. – July 16, 2018.

* Julia Yeow has been in journalism for two decades and counts it as her first love, despite enjoying brief stints as a lecturer, clown and salad maker. She is a strong believer in social justice, and holds that there is sometimes more truth in the greys, than the blacks and whites.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.