Time for moderates to speak out loud

KUALA LUMPUR: There needs to be space for freedom of speech and discourse for the principle of moderation to flourish in the country.

This was the resounding theme echoed by the panellists at a forum titled 'What is a moderate Malaysia to Malaysians?'

Lawyer and activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said that freedom of speech is not encouraged in the country, contrary to Malaysia's Federal Constitution.

"If we could just go back to the Constitution, if we could understand it - the fundamental liberties are (enshrined) there and one of those is freedom of speech," said Ambiga.

She said while freedom of speech should be use responsibly, it should not be restricted as it would then stop some people from speaking out against extremist voices for fear of retaliation from the authorities.

"When they start muzzling the press, (then) we really have a problem," she added, citing the recent arrests of journalists by the police.

Universiti Malaya associate professor of law Dr Azmi Sharom said the core danger to moderation is that in the current climate, spaces for moderate voices to be heard are lacking while spaces for extremist voices to be heard are aplenty.

"The issue lies in the fact that extremists have been given an environment to flourish.

"There will always be nutcases (extremists), but there needs to be people who counter these nutcases," said Azmi.

He urged moderates to speak louder, adding "we cannot be mild anymore (as) the time has passed."

Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) president Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Muhriz echoed Ambiga's view that a moderate Malaysia "is the one dreamt of by the country's founding fathers."

"(For example) Tunku Abdul Rahman has been largely forgotten and his vision of what Malaysia should be has been largely forgotten," he said.

The forum was held at the Royal Lake Club in conjuction with the launch of the book 'Alamak! All in God's Name' by former public servant and columnist K.J John.

Former Appeals Court judge Datuk Mohd Ariff Yusof gave the keynote speech while Ideas chief operating officer Tria Yeoh completed the line of four panellists.

Reverend Dr Sivin Kit of Malaysian Theology Seminary was the moderator.