Are Malaysians Really Terrified To Speak Their Minds? Theatre Icon Jo Kukathas Believes So
"We have become terrified of speaking what is on our mind and we have become secretive."
By Sadho Ram — 12 Dec 2014, 12:24 AM — Updated almost 10 years ago
Speaking as a panelist at the "Freedom of Expression: Under Threat" forum organised by the Malaysian Bar Council Laws, Jo Kukathas said curtailing freedom of speech and other crackdowns have caused Malaysians to be terrified of speaking their minds
"We have become terrified of speaking what is on our mind and we have become secretive. We do not express ourselves because we do not know what are the repercussions of sharing our thoughts and lives with others. We have to hide what we really feel to get the life we want."
thestar.com.myCiting the comments made by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to political activist Ali Abdul Jalil, who is currently seeking asylum in Sweden, she said the remarks were disturbing
"The remark is disturbing because it comes from a politician. I see a real threat to our freedoms. Things have changed so much from 25 years ago when Instant Cafe was formed, now such a theatre company would not be formed," said Kukathas.
thestar.com.myKhairy had tweeted saying, "Good riddance. Don't ever come back," to Ali, who had posted a photo on Facebook of the asylum card issued to him after his passport was revoked on 9 December
Good riddance. Don't ever come back. pic.twitter.com/oitw9d4Crr
— Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) December 9, 2014
Adding that the principle of freedom of speech as well as other basic freedoms should be celebrated by Malaysians, Jo, who is also a political critic, further said that Malaysians need to think of the ideals they wish to champion and celebrate as citizens
"We have stopped believing in the law because they are being used without debate or grounds given for its necessity."
"We need Malaysians who celebrate freedom. Many Malaysians live among us but have emigrated into their own head space or have entered into a tiny community."
As per The Star, she along with former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan also questioned the proposed National Harmony Bill and the need for enhancing laws like the Sedition Act
Ambiga Sreenevasan, President, HAKAM, speaking at the Bar Council forum on death penalty and freedom of expression
Image via mmail.com.my"The idea of harmony is not an instinct that we have, it differs between people and cultures. How can you say that there is only one harmony, but freedom has travelled and been debated through centuries," said theatre icon Jo Kukathas.
thestar.com.my"My own view is that there are enough laws. And we have to look at the question of implementation of the laws. We really need to have more confidence in the people of Malaysia and stop living in 1948," said Ambiga.
“We cannot remain in 1948,” Ambiga told a Bar Council forum on freedom of expression here. “We’re on the United Nations Security Council, a non-permanent member. We were on the Human Rights Council. We’re gonna lead Asean. We need to start changing the way we talk and think,” she added.
Ambiga today alleged that the government’s decision to retain the Sedition Act was not motivated by a desire to maintain national harmony, but to hold on to power.
mmail.com.my