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15-04-2015, 11:50 PM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
Don’t be a busybody, USA 15 April 2015
Throughout its history, the United States has repeatedly intervened in the affairs of overseas governments, including Malaysia. Contrary to the big brother image it likes to project, the root of American foreign policy is certainly not upholding human rights or morality but to serve their own self-aggrandizement objectives. The Malaysian government honours freedom of expression and knows it is necessary for effective government, economic and social progress. Its recent move in the amendments to the Sedition Act is to nip problems in the bud by providing deterrents to troublemakers who do not have social equilibrium in their frame of reference. The latest statement by Marie Harf, Acting Spokesperson from the US Department of State in Washington on Malaysia’s Sedition Act Amendments shows the abject disregard of Malaysia’s sovereignty. In fact, the hubris of that statement reeks of damning hypocrisy of the highest order. The US has failed to acknowledge that while Malaysia upholds the democratic right to express one's ideas and opinions freely through speech, writing, and other forms of communication, citizens cannot abuse this right by speaking so freely until it can deliberately cause harm to others' character and/or reputation by false or misleading statements. The American government, like many others who objected to the amendments, has purposely chosen to ignore how irresponsible citizens have blatantly gone against the caveat to this freedom of expression in recent years. Thus, it is the preservation of peace, harmony, unity and social order that necessitated these amendments – and not because the Malaysian government deliberately deprived Malaysians for their democratic right. One can either exercise the right responsibly or abuse it to the extent that hatred, disunity and social unrest could be triggered by the remarks or publication of inflammatory comments in public discourse. Considering how Guantanamo Bay is still operating, it is absolutely ludicrous that the American government has the cheek to express their concerns about the increase in penalties, even for first-time offenders especially pertaining to allegedly seditious material on social media. Similarly, has the US government questioned the Singapore government’s actions on Amos Lee? If they have not, why are they picking on the Malaysian government in this area? If the US government is sincere in wanting to help Malaysia, they should instead, give suggestions or guidelines as to how there can be free debate about and between political parties exposes their strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, they should exhort local NGOs to be watchdogs for the media, the government, and the opposition. These watchdogs can highlight when laws are broken or how to expose corruption or other improprieties via legitimate channels thereby developing a culture of accountability and honesty. By interfering in this manner without factoring the social and political ambiance of Malaysia, is the US government indirectly taking the sides of those who willfully go against the government by speaking in a seditious manner? The Malaysian government believes in good governance and encourages citizens to raise their concerns with the authorities. If people can direct their concerns to the relevant channels, and the media accurately reports what is being said, there would have been no reason for the amendments in the first place. The US government must understand that Malaysia’s new policies and legislation are not birthed overnight but, carefully considered over time and enforced only after much deliberation in the August house. Respect Malaysia and stay out of our nation’s affairs like how we stay out of American affairs or that of any other nation.
Datuk Huan Cheng Guan Head, Centre for Political Awareness
Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/node/80634
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?204815-This-Mat-Datuk-Said-US-is-busybody!&goto=newpost).
Don’t be a busybody, USA 15 April 2015
Throughout its history, the United States has repeatedly intervened in the affairs of overseas governments, including Malaysia. Contrary to the big brother image it likes to project, the root of American foreign policy is certainly not upholding human rights or morality but to serve their own self-aggrandizement objectives. The Malaysian government honours freedom of expression and knows it is necessary for effective government, economic and social progress. Its recent move in the amendments to the Sedition Act is to nip problems in the bud by providing deterrents to troublemakers who do not have social equilibrium in their frame of reference. The latest statement by Marie Harf, Acting Spokesperson from the US Department of State in Washington on Malaysia’s Sedition Act Amendments shows the abject disregard of Malaysia’s sovereignty. In fact, the hubris of that statement reeks of damning hypocrisy of the highest order. The US has failed to acknowledge that while Malaysia upholds the democratic right to express one's ideas and opinions freely through speech, writing, and other forms of communication, citizens cannot abuse this right by speaking so freely until it can deliberately cause harm to others' character and/or reputation by false or misleading statements. The American government, like many others who objected to the amendments, has purposely chosen to ignore how irresponsible citizens have blatantly gone against the caveat to this freedom of expression in recent years. Thus, it is the preservation of peace, harmony, unity and social order that necessitated these amendments – and not because the Malaysian government deliberately deprived Malaysians for their democratic right. One can either exercise the right responsibly or abuse it to the extent that hatred, disunity and social unrest could be triggered by the remarks or publication of inflammatory comments in public discourse. Considering how Guantanamo Bay is still operating, it is absolutely ludicrous that the American government has the cheek to express their concerns about the increase in penalties, even for first-time offenders especially pertaining to allegedly seditious material on social media. Similarly, has the US government questioned the Singapore government’s actions on Amos Lee? If they have not, why are they picking on the Malaysian government in this area? If the US government is sincere in wanting to help Malaysia, they should instead, give suggestions or guidelines as to how there can be free debate about and between political parties exposes their strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, they should exhort local NGOs to be watchdogs for the media, the government, and the opposition. These watchdogs can highlight when laws are broken or how to expose corruption or other improprieties via legitimate channels thereby developing a culture of accountability and honesty. By interfering in this manner without factoring the social and political ambiance of Malaysia, is the US government indirectly taking the sides of those who willfully go against the government by speaking in a seditious manner? The Malaysian government believes in good governance and encourages citizens to raise their concerns with the authorities. If people can direct their concerns to the relevant channels, and the media accurately reports what is being said, there would have been no reason for the amendments in the first place. The US government must understand that Malaysia’s new policies and legislation are not birthed overnight but, carefully considered over time and enforced only after much deliberation in the August house. Respect Malaysia and stay out of our nation’s affairs like how we stay out of American affairs or that of any other nation.
Datuk Huan Cheng Guan Head, Centre for Political Awareness
Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/node/80634
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://sammyboy.com/showthread.php?204815-This-Mat-Datuk-Said-US-is-busybody!&goto=newpost).