PAS meet: Sanusi slams authorities over alleged unfair curbs on freedom of speech

SHAH ALAM: Freedom of speech and freedom of media should not be blocked to stop those who criticise the government and its leaders, says PAS.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor(pic), in supporting a resolution by a Muslimat wing delegate at the PAS Muktamar on Saturday (Oct 21), alleged that the public feared being hauled up by the authorities over their posts on social media.

“Posts critical of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are either taken down or the social media accounts blocked by the telecommunications operators on the orders of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC),” Sanusi said.

He gave examples of news portals that were ordered to remove content in the past months and stated that freedom of speech and media is a vital part of democracy.

Earlier, Muslimat wing delegate Husna Hashim proposed that the Communications and Digital Ministry be fair and not be selective when practising “media freedom”.

“The ministry should not wantonly use its powers to harass any party or individual to support the governing parties and should allow them to voice freely on mass media or social media.

"There should not be double standards in holding up Article 8 of the Federal Constitution (freedom of speech),” Husna said.

PAS Youth delegate Muhammad Nazrul Hakim Md Nazir also alleged that PAS members were recently harassed over social media posts criticising leaders of the federal government.

“My message to the government of the day - do not block our freedom of speech and harass us as the Opposition.

“Do not have two sets of rules for Malaysians,” said Muhammad Nazrul.