Restricting speech will bring Arab Spring to Malaysia: Amnesty International

PUTRAJAYA — Amnesty International secretary-general Salil Shetty today (Sept 4) warned Malaysia that it would see an “Arab Spring” if it continued to clamp down on the people’s freedom of expression.

He said Amnesty International was “deeply concerned about the rapid deterioration of basic freedom and human rights” in Malaysia.

“When I speak to the government here, they’ve been saying ‘we can’t just give freedom of expression to the people, you could have an Arab Spring-like situation’,” said Mr Shetty in his speech at the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference 2015 in Putrajaya.

“They’ve kind of got it back to front. One of the reasons why the Arab Spring happened was because the people of the Arab world have not had freedom of expression.

“If you don’t give people the ability to protest peacefully, speak their minds, you’re guaranteeing an Arab Spring.”

He said the use of various laws, such as the Sedition Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act, were curbing freedom of expression, dissent and peaceful protests in Malaysia.

Mr Shetty warned that this would only encourage more corruption in the country. He also told the hall, which comprised anti-graft experts from around the world, that Malaysian authorities have threatened or intimidated the media, students, non-governmental organisations, and opposition leaders for speaking out.

“We’ve had newspapers shut down, websites closed, the attorney-general sacked, the public accounts committee suspended, investigating agencies intimidated.

“So now, RM2.6 billion (S$866 million) has disappeared. The prime minister has to come clean and tell us, is this grand corruption? “Where did the money come from? Where has it all gone?” said Mr Shetty, referring to the money transferred to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal accounts.

The ongoing IACC has seen several international delegates demanding answers from Mr Najib over the funds, including Transparency International chief Jose Ugaz and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption Coalition chairman Manzoor Hasan.

Malaysia is hosting the ongoing IACC. Mr Najib, who was to deliver the conference’s keynote address, skipped the event after being warned of “hostile reception” from the audience. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER