Citizens’ right to express opinions must be respected

“SO Aunty, So What” columnist June Wong’s plea for our new government to continue to give space to peaceful dissent and criticism, “Of elbow room and breathing space” (The Star, June 5) is a reasonable and desirable request. In our thriving democracy, the powers that be must move away from the dogmatic “my way or the highway” way of thinking or doing things.

Suppressing peaceful or respectful competing views is not only undemocratic but can also threatens our nation’s interests and progress.