Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Monday (May 27) said that the Federal Government will always uphold media freedom while protecting national harmony.
Anwar said democracy required a free media, which entailed the space and freedom to express ideas, views and information.
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Anwar said democracy required a free media, which entailed the space and freedom to express ideas, views and information.
Read more at https://tinyurl.com/dkw4ke9e
WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news
SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar
LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline
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NewsTranscript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 I will now direct to the issues that we have to grapple with.
00:11 How do I grapple with?
00:12 How do people like me and Abang Joe deal with these issues?
00:16 We want freedom, yes.
00:20 But will we allow or should we condone excesses?
00:31 Criticism, yes.
00:33 Alternative ideas, yes.
00:36 Even some nasty criticism, we don't recognize.
00:41 But do we just accept the fact that anything
00:46 can be said without regard to moral and ethical principles
00:50 or the need to strengthen a united country?
00:56 If you allow racism to flourish or fascism
01:00 to flourish or religious bigotry to have
01:04 its freehold in this country, then you
01:10 must anticipate the possibility of friction, racial strife,
01:18 and religious disharmony.
01:21 So of course, we've been criticized.
01:25 I mean, our colleague from Journalists Without Borders
01:32 is here.
01:33 And of course, that is a problem.
01:35 I don't mind.
01:36 It does not matter if you are downgraded because we
01:39 are tough against the racists and the religious bigots.
01:42 Because to my mind, to save this country,
01:49 to protect the right of the majority
01:51 and the rights of minorities is more important
01:54 than to get a high mark and win international recognition.
02:01 This is, of course, a problem.
02:03 Of course, as I have been long in the opposition,
02:10 I've traveled around the world and accolades
02:13 because of my position on the free media, yes.
02:17 And I wouldn't want to compromise on that need,
02:20 that we must allow that space.
02:22 Otherwise, democracy will not mature.
02:26 I want to become, of course, prime minister that upholds
02:30 the principles of free media.
02:33 Yes, but I want to admit that we have to draw the line.
02:39 There was a recent incident when the king, the agung,
02:46 was civilly criticized or the innuendo or insinuations
02:54 that the king is now negotiating with the prime minister
02:57 to set up a casino in a foreign city.
03:01 Apparently, partly owned by the king.
03:05 But there's no basis.
03:08 Now, if you want to protect that institution,
03:12 there must be some paraphernalia protecting
03:15 the institution.
03:17 You address the king differently,
03:19 and he is supposed to embody that national spirit
03:26 to be the fountain of mercy and symbol of unity.
03:31 And therefore, you can't drag him into this mud of politics.
03:38 So we have decided, therefore, whilst you
03:42 are permitted to criticize or disagree
03:46 with the prime minister or the government,
03:49 you cannot incite racial hatred or against the role
03:55 of royalty or religious fanaticism.
04:04 Those who are not familiar may not fully understand.
04:08 We have in Sarawak, a major number of citizens of Sarawak.
04:15 They are non-Muslims.
04:18 I come from a state in Penang where
04:21 non-Muslims are the majority.
04:23 But in most states, Muslim majority.
04:25 Total, probably close to 60% Muslims.
04:29 We have 40% non-Muslims, more so in Sarawak.
04:34 And do you accept a fatwa, a religious edict,
04:39 coming from a so-called scholar, from the so-called Islamic
04:43 party, saying that you cannot, it is religiously forbidden
04:49 to support any representation by a non-Muslim?
04:58 That means they cannot be elected into office.
05:02 Of course you cannot.
05:03 You will destroy the country.
05:05 Now, do you allow that?
05:07 I say, as long as I am prime minister and Premier Abang
05:10 Joe is with me, we will not tolerate this
05:13 because we will break the foundation
05:15 and the fabric of this country.
05:16 [APPLAUSE]
05:19 Don't then confuse with the issue of media freedom.
05:27 Because OK, we can.
05:29 You see, we have the communications minister.
05:34 You can use the media to explain.
05:36 But you are inciting so much hatred.
05:40 And you are saying that it is therefore not
05:43 possible for any Muslim to vote a non-Muslim.
05:47 And that is not tenable in this country.
05:50 And we will not allow this.
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