
Malaysians must resist attempts to erode fundamental freedoms, says MCA
THE continuous violations of people's rights and freedoms threaten to plunge the nation into the darkest chapter in Malaysian history. Fundamental freedoms outlined in the Federal Constitution such as freedom of speech and movement are now in a downward spiral.
Over the past year, citizens' rights and freedoms have been consistently suppressed and intimidated by the government. The clear intention behind these actions is to create a fear-based effect that discourages the public from expressing dissatisfaction or criticising government policies.
Several incidents; all of which have been reported by the media, have highlighted this troubling trend:
– In April, a netizen working at a petrol station was detained by the police after uploading a video critical of the Prime Minister. A few days later, he was charged in court.
– In May, a car dealership owner and influencer who requested an investigation into the background and finances of PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar was summoned by the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The police later took him in for questioning and his dealership was raided by authorities.
– The Housing and Local Government Ministry's MyKiosk project sparked controversy regarding inflated costs and the risk of becoming a white elephant project. Multiple MCA leaders who commented on the issue saw their TikTok videos removed overnight, with some even having their accounts banned.
– Renowned artist and social activist Fahmi Reza was banned from leaving the country, with the government later claiming it was a misunderstanding.
– The South China Morning Post revealed that the Malaysian government had ordered telecommunication companies to submit detailed records of users' calls and Internet activities.
These incidents show how the government has mobilised state apparatus to systematically suppress, monitor, and intimidate the people. Such actions not only violate democratic principles but also severely infringe upon human rights.
Those in power should prioritise the well-being of the people, respect basic human rights, and uphold the rule of law, rather than abusing power to silence dissenting voices. A government that fears the people's voices is one that is heading toward authoritarianism.
It is crucial for the public to remain vigilant and resist any attempts to erode or dismiss fundamental freedoms. Together, we as fellow Malaysians must continue to defend the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the nation's Constitution.
CHAN QUIN ER
MCA information chief and Wanita MCA secretary-general
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Sinar Daily
40 minutes ago
- Sinar Daily
Caprice exposes child exploitation ring on Facebook, triggers national fury
SHAH ALAM – A Facebook group sharing explicit content involving underage children has triggered national outrage after social media personality, Caprice exposed its existence through a series of Instagram posts. With over 12,000 members, the group, believed to be active since 2014, has been condemned for its disturbing focus on school-aged children. In a strong response posted on her Instagram account, Mek Yun called on fellow Malaysians to take immediate action on the criminally dangerous group. Photo: Instagram / @mekyunn Social media influencer and actress Mek Yun, who discovered her old school photos were shared in the group, has joined Caprice in demanding speedy action. Caprice took to Instagram to reveal the existence of a Facebook group named 'Group Budak2 Sekolah Rendah,' where members share indecent content involving school children, particularly girls in uniform. Caprice stated that the group, which has now surpassed 12,000 members, openly features inappropriate comments and lewd discussions by adult men, including senior citizens. 'Admin, surrender yourself at the police station within 48 hours. If you do, I won't expose the faces of the group members, including the admin. Don't think we can't trace you...' Caprice posted in a recent Instagram Story. His investigations also revealed that the Facebook group has been active for over a decade and was run by two individuals: a man and a woman. Even more disturbing, the group was set to 'public,' making the vile content accessible to anyone online. Caprice confirmed he had lodged a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and had also tagged the police force as well as the Minister of Communications, Fahmi Fadzil, for further action. 'I've reported it to @skmm_mcmc @fahmifadzil. God willing they will act quickly. The admin should just surrender at the police station as soon as possible. If the authorities come to your doorstep, it's going to be a big problem,' he shared in his Instagram Story. Many of the posts featured graphic language and deeply concerning remarks, with members making sexually suggestive comments on photos of schoolgirls. Mek Yun was among the individuals whose old school photos were found in the group. In a strong response posted on her Instagram account, Mek Yun called on fellow Malaysians to take immediate action on the criminally dangerous group. 'Let's all tag @pdrmsia_official @skmm_mcmc and YB @fahmifadzil.1 together. 'I'm also asking everyone to share this video and report the 'Budak2 Sek Rendah' group on Facebook. Let's destroy this group. Don't give them any chance at all to do what they want. Because this should NEVER be normalised,' her post read. Mek Yun also spoke about society's moral responsibility to protect children from such exploitation. 'Who else is going to protect those kids and our children if not us?' she asked. Public reaction has been swift and fierce, with social media users flooding the comments sections on Caprice's and Mek Yun's posts to express disgust, support and determination to see justice served. Many rallied around the noble actions of those who brought the issue to light. 'The older one gets, the closer they should be to God, not chasing lust like mad,' a commenter posted. 'Good job Caprice, fast action on this issue. Serves those old perverts right,' a comment read on Caprice's Instagram post. 'If all you think about is what's below the waist, how are you different from an animal?' an enraged comment read. Despite the overwhelming backlash and exposure, no official statement has been issued by the police or relevant authorities on follow-up action at the time of press. The public continues to tag official bodies, demanding that legal action be taken against the administrators and members of the group.


New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Zambry urges scholarship providers to diversify student placements beyond US
PUTRAJAYA: Local scholarship providers have been urged to make immediate decisions regarding placing their sponsored students in countries other than the United States (US), following the impact of new tariff policies introduced by the country. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Malaysia had many high-achieving students qualified to pursue studies in the world's best universities, not exclusively in the US. "We can no longer be trapped by policies that are too regressive in nature, to the extent of jeopardising opportunities for students from all over the world, including Malaysia, to study. "For me, the best universities are also available in other countries," he said when met at the 'Luncheon Talk With Editors' session in conjunction with the Asean-Malaysia Chairmanship 2025 Programme, organised by the Higher Education Ministry, here today. He was commenting on the impact of new US tariff policies on Malaysian students pursuing studies there. Previously, the Trump administration issued directives to halt the processing of visas for all foreign students and considered measures to screen new applicants based on their social media posts. Mara chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was reportedly quoted as saying that Mara would stop sending its sponsored students to the US starting this year, following the introduction of President Donald Trump's new policies. – BERNAMA


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PKR's leave to appeal bid in Zuraida's bond payment case set for hearing on June 24
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court will hear on June 24 an application by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to seek leave to appeal against a Court of Appeal's decision which reduced the bond payment to be made by the party's former vice-president, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, in a breach of party bond case. PKR's lawyer, Navpreet Singh, when contacted, told Bernama that the hearing will proceed via online proceedings. "A final case management was held before the Federal Court deputy registrar Husna Dzulkifly today, he said, adding that all parties have updated the court pertaining to compliance with pre-hearing directives relating to their submissions. The case revolves around a civil suit filed by former PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, on behalf of the party, claiming that Zuraida, who was then the Ampang member of parliament, had breached the bond she had signed. The terms of the bond, among others, required Zuraida to pay PKR RM10 million within seven days of winning an election on the PKR ticket, should she resign from the party, join another political party, or become an independent representative. In June 2023, the High Court ruled in favour of the party and ordered Zuraida to pay the RM10 million, with the court finding the bond to be valid and enforceable. However, in December last year, the Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court that there was a breach of bond but reduced the bond amount to RM100,000, citing that the RM10 million is not a reasonable amount of compensation. This prompted PKR to file a leave to appeal. In her defence, Zuraida contended that she was forced to sign the bond with the party to be able to stand for election as a candidate in the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018. The Federal Court will now decide whether PKR can proceed with its appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision. In civil cases, litigants must obtain leave before they can proceed with their appeals in the Federal Court.