National Press Club president Datuk Ahirudin Attan, also known as Rocky Bru, says legal rights group Lawyers for Liberty should be more concerned about the truth and the sanctity of Malaysia’s institutions.
In defending foreign bloggers, Lawyers for Liberty should know the difference between free speech and defamation.
THE concern expressed by Malaysia’s Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) regarding a police report lodged by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) against a disgraced Australian blogger based in Thailand is perplexing.
I understand that LFL is trying to live up to its code, which involves “defending human rights and their defenders.”
However, it should also be concerned about three key aspects: one, the truth; two, the sanctity of our institutions; and three, the increasing attempts to undermine our institutions (and the Malaysian economy) using anything but the truth.
Murray Hunter attacked our Royal Institution in a recent posting, did the LFL know that? Or the LFL did and didn’t think it needed to come to the defence of the royalty?
As much as we want to defend freedom of speech, we need to ask everybody to respect one another’s sensitivity.
Murray Hunter once earned his living in Malaysia, and we know it didn’t end well (he was dismissed by his former employer, Universiti Malaysia Perlis).
We understand he may have a grudge. An axe to grind, I understand that perfectly.
LFL can kiss Murray Hunter’s *** for all I care.
But if you guys feel the need to defend that disgraced former lecturer, who has been attacking us from the comfort and safety of his residence in Hatyai or Songkla, at least have the decency to also defend the Malaysian victims of his attacks, too. –
Rocky Bru or Datuk Ahirudin Attan is executive director of Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop; and president of the National Press Club
